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Easy Spooky Mummy Meatballs with Marinara

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These Spooky Halloween Mummy Meatballs with Marinara are a quick and fun weeknight dinner that kids love to help make. Juicy meatballs wrapped in strips of pizza dough, baked until golden, and served with warm marinara sauce for dipping.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
  • ½ cup plain breadcrumbs (Panko preferred)
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
  • 1 pound store-bought pizza dough, at room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup marinara sauce
  • Candy eyes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
  2. Make the meatball mixture. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan, minced garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, and parsley if using. Use your hands to mix gently until just combined.
  3. Shape the meatballs. Roll the mixture into 12 evenly sized meatballs, about 1.5 inches each. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
  4. Prepare the dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough into a rectangle about ¼-inch thick. Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut it into thin strips, about ½-inch wide and 6-8 inches long.
  5. Wrap the meatballs. 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 the remaining meatballs.
  6. Brush with oil. Lightly brush the dough strips with olive oil.
  7. Bake. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through (internal temperature of 160°F/71°C) and the dough is golden brown.
  8. Add the eyes (optional). If using candy eyes, press them gently into the exposed meatball area immediately after removing from the oven. If using sour cream dots, wait until the meatballs have cooled for 2-3 minutes.
  9. Warm the marinara. While the meatballs bake, warm the marinara sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat, or microwave it in a bowl for 1-2 minutes.
  10. Serve. Arrange the mummy meatballs on a platter with the warm marinara sauce on the side for dipping. Serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t overwork the meatball mixture to keep them tender. Let the pizza dough come to room temperature for easier handling. Leave gaps in the dough wrapping to allow steam to escape. For a make-ahead option, assemble the wrapped meatballs up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate; add 2-3 minutes to baking time. For an air fryer version, cook at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween, mummy meatballs, meatballs, marinara, pizza dough, spooky, easy, kid-friendly, weeknight dinner

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