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Garlic Bread Meatball Bombs

Soft bakery rolls stuffed with juicy meatballs, marinara sauce, and melty mozzarella, all brushed with a glorious garlicky butter.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 12 rolls

Equipment

  • Small bowl for garlic butter
  • Baking Sheet
  • Knife for slicing rolls
  • Spoon for hollowing rolls and adding filling

Ingredients
  

Garlic Butter

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 2 teaspoons grated garlic from 2-3 garlic cloves
  • 0.5 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Meatball Bombs

  • 12 count package bakery-style dinner rolls soft and fluffy, e.g., brioche or challah
  • 1.5 cups marinara sauce store-bought or homemade
  • 12 Italian-style meatballs thawed if frozen, fully cooked
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • 8 ounces block whole milk mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, grated garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper to make the garlic butter.
    6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Slice the tops off each dinner roll and carefully hollow out the inside, leaving about a ¼-inch border, creating a pocket. Reserve the tops.
    6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Place one Italian meatball into the hollowed-out center of each roll.
    6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Spoon about 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce over each meatball.
    6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese over the marinara sauce in each roll.
    6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Brush the reserved roll tops generously with the garlic butter mixture.
    6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Place the garlic butter-brushed tops back onto the filled rolls.
  • Arrange the stuffed rolls on a baking sheet.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the rolls are golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  • Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley before serving.
    6 tablespoons unsalted butter

Notes

These Garlic Bread Meatball Bombs are best enjoyed fresh. They can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated, or frozen before baking for later. If reheating, a toaster oven or conventional oven is recommended over a microwave to maintain crispiness.