Meatball Bombs

Garlic Bread Meatball Bombs

Contributed by : Jill Kanwischer
jill-kanwischer-20220608231807
Italian Recipes : Appetizers and Snacks

Denise Neilson made this recipe for an open house I had after the renovation to my sunroom and the construction of a garage by my nephew and contractor Scott Neilson. This meatball appetizer was the bomb and so was my contractor Scotty!!!

Total Time

45 minutes

Prepare Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

35 minutes

Recipe Servings

12

Ingredients of
Garlic Bread Meatball Bombs

  • 12 dinner rolls (I prefer the Costco dinner rolls ... be sure they are the soft ones)
  • 12 meatballs (cooked)
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
  • cooking spray
  • parsley

Garlic Butter:

  • 1/2 cup salted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 Tbsp parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup sundried tomato pesto
  • 2 cups marinara sauce 
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil

How to Make
Garlic Bread Meatball Bombs

  1.  If you are using store-bought, frozen meatballs, cook them according to the package instructions. When cooked, set aside until ready to use. If you are preparing homemade meatballs, do that now. Cook them and set them aside until ready to use.
  2. Next, in a small sauce pan, add the butter and garlic. Over medium heat, cook the garlic in the butter until fragrant and just starting to brown. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
  3. Prepare the sauce by whisking together the sun dried tomato pesto, marinara sauce, and olive oil in a bowl. Set aside.
  4. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
  5. To assemble, begin by hollowing out the top of each dinner roll with a sharp knife. The hole will need to be slightly bigger than your meatballs, but not so deep that you puncture the bottom.
  6. Set the rolls into a 9×13" baking pan which has been coated with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
  7. Whisk the parmesan, dried parsley, dried oregano, and ground black pepper into the butter and garlic mixture. Using a pastry brush, liberally smear the holes of the dinner rolls with the garlic butter. Use all of the butter evenly into each dinner roll.
  8. Spoon about a tablespoon of the prepared sauce into each of the hollowed out dinner rolls.
  9. Place a cooked meatball into each hole. Top each meatball with the remaining sauce mixture.
  10. Evenly distribute the cheese over each of the dinner rolls. Sprinkle on the Italian seasoning.
  11. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from oven.
  12. Using a sharp knife, slice between each dinner roll. Plate and garnish with parsley.

Notes

This recipe can be made easily by using all pre-made ingredients or more complicated by making your favorite homemade meatballs, marinara sauce, etc.  The original recipe came from Lord Byron's Kitchen at https://www.lordbyronskitchen.com/garlic-bread-meatball-bombs/