MEATBALL SUB CASSEROLE - the kind of cook recipe

Ingredients

1 loaf buttered garlic bread cut into 1-inch-thick slices (you will have some leftover)
1 lb. frozen cooked meatballs thawed
8 oz. cream cheese very softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
28 oz. jar marinara sauce
2/3 cup water

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a greased 9 x 13 pan, arrange the sliced garlic bread in a single layer, buttered side up; set aside.(If you are using plain French or Italian bread, butter each slice and sprinkle with just a smidge of garlic powder, if desired.)
In a large skillet over medium high heat, add the meatballs, browning them a bit on each side, allowing them to render their fats somewhat; drain any fats that accumulate.Add the marinara sauce to the meatballs, along with the water; bring to a gentle simmer, then remove the skillet from the heat.
Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese with the mayonnaise, and Italian seasoning; gently spread this mixture over the sliced bread in the casserole dish; sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
Spread the marinara/meatball mixture over the cream cheese layer; sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.Bake the casserole, uncovered, on the center rack of the oven, for 25-30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly throughout and golden brown on top. Serve at once.Don’t over bake; this can cause the bread on the bottom of the casserole to become tough and chewy.

Course: Main CourseCuisine: ItalianKeyword: beef meatball recipes, ground beef casserole, how to make meatball subs from scratch, meatball casserole, meatball recipes

Nutrition