How to make cheesy garlic and meatball rolls

Cooktop Cove: How to make cheesy garlic and meatball rolls

By Kate Elliott

Meatball subs may seem like a great dish to make for game day, but they're messy and can be difficult to eat. The recipe that follows, however, gives guests all the deliciousness that comes with those subs without worrying about how everyone's going to eat them while huddled around the TV. Other than making your guests very happy, you will have also done it without breaking a sweat.

That's because this dish uses mostly prepared ingredients, including the rolls, meatballs and marinara. The goal is to let you watch the game too instead of missing it because you were sweating in the kitchen. Be forewarned, though. These rolls are so delicious, you may want to make an extra batch or two for those guests who will keep coming back for more - because they will.

Cheesy Garlic and Meatball Rolls

5 minutes

15 minutes

20 minutes

12 soft Hawaiian rolls

1/2 cup butter

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

12 frozen cooked meatballs, thawed

1 cup marinara sauce

1 cup mozzarella cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9-by-13 casserole dish.

Using a sharp knife, cut out the top of each roll and remove enough bread to fit a meatball inside. Place rolls in a casserole dish as they are done and set aside.

Place the meatballs and marinara sauce in a medium-sized saucepan set over medium heat. Cover and cook just until sauce and meatballs are both hot throughout.

In a large frying pan set over medium heat, melt butter. Add garlic and salt and saute for 1 to 2 minutes, just until garlic is soft.

Using a pastry or silicone brush, brush the garlic butter generously along the inside of each roll.

Place a meatball inside each roll.

Top each meatball with a tablespoon or two more of marinara sauce and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

Place the casserole dish into the preheated oven and bake for about 10 minutes, just until cheese has melted.