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Meatball Boats

Meatball Boats
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Meatball Boats are a fun and flavorful handheld meal featuring tender ground beef or turkey meatballs nestled in soft Italian bread hollowed out like boats, topped with rich marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or casual gatherings, this recipe delivers comforting, juicy meatballs with a gooey cheesy finish that everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatballs

  • 1 lb ground beef or turkey (lean)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Bread

  • 2 Italian bread loaves

Sauce and Toppings

  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef or turkey with breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, finely chopped onion, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix gently to combine, then shape into small, bite-sized meatballs, about one inch in diameter.
  2. Brown the Meatballs: Heat a skillet over medium heat with a little oil and brown the meatballs on all sides until they have a nice crust, about 5 minutes. They do not need to be fully cooked through at this stage.
  3. Hollow Out the Bread Loaves: Slice the Italian bread loaves lengthwise and gently hollow out the center to create bread “boats” ready to cradle your meatballs and sauce.
  4. Assemble the Meatball Boats: Place the browned meatballs into the hollowed bread boats, ladle generous amounts of marinara sauce over them, and top everything with a hearty handful of shredded mozzarella cheese.
  5. Bake to Perfection: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the assembled boats for about 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and beginning to turn golden brown.
  6. Serve and Enjoy: Remove from the oven carefully, let cool slightly, then slice into portions and serve warm for a delightful meal everyone will rave about.

Notes

  • Don’t overmix the meatball mixture to keep meatballs tender, not dense or tough.
  • Use sturdy bread with a firm crust to avoid sogginess when baking.
  • Partially browning the meatballs adds flavor and prevents them from falling apart in the oven.
  • Customize the marinara sauce by using homemade or your favorite store-bought version.
  • Sprinkle chopped fresh basil or parsley on top after baking for freshness and color.

Nutrition

Keywords: meatball boats, meatballs, handheld dinner, marinara, mozzarella, easy dinner, family meal, comfort food, Italian bread, baking

Find it online: https://sophiespace.com/meatball-boats/