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Easy Mummy Meatball Sub Casserole Recipe: Best 30-Min Dinner

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A fun and fast 30-minute casserole featuring frozen meatballs wrapped in breadstick dough like little mummies, baked in marinara sauce with melted cheese. Perfect for Halloween, game day, or any busy weeknight.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (24-ounce) bag frozen fully cooked meatballs (homestyle or Italian-style)
  • 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce (roasted garlic or basil variety recommended)
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (about 8 ounces)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 (11-ounce) tubes refrigerated breadstick dough (such as Pillsbury)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • Candy eyeballs (optional, for decoration)
  • Small dots of sour cream and black olive slices (optional, for decoration)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or brush lightly with olive oil.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the entire jar of marinara sauce with the frozen meatballs. Stir gently until all meatballs are coated.
  3. Pour the saucy meatballs into the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer, leaving a little space between each meatball.
  4. Open the tubes of breadstick dough. Unroll and separate the breadsticks along the perforated lines. Cut each breadstick lengthwise into three long, thin strips (about 24 strips total).
  5. Take one strip of dough and wrap it around a meatball, leaving a small gap for the ‘eyes.’ Don’t wrap too tightly. Repeat with remaining meatballs and dough strips. Tuck any extra dough strips between the meatballs or roll into knots.
  6. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan evenly over the top of the casserole.
  7. In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Brush this mixture over the exposed dough strips.
  8. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling around the edges. If dough browns too quickly, tent loosely with aluminum foil for the last 5 minutes.
  9. If using candy eyeballs, press them gently into the cheese or dough right when the casserole comes out of the oven. If using sour cream and olives, add just before serving.
  10. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Don’t thaw the meatballs first—frozen meatballs hold their shape better. Leave gaps in the dough wrap for sauce and cheese to caramelize. For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pizza dough or biscuit dough. The casserole can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance (add butter wash just before baking). Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and can be frozen unbaked for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: mummy meatball sub casserole, Halloween dinner, easy casserole, 30-minute meal, kid-friendly dinner, meatball recipe, game day food

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