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Meatball Eyeballs in Marinara Sauce
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Course Appetizer
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 people

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Baking Sheet
  • Large Skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into small rounds
  • 12 black olives, halved

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a mixing bowl combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper until evenly mixed.
  • Shape the mixture into 12 meatballs and place them on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until the centers reach 160 degrees.
  • While the meatballs bake, pour the marinara sauce into a large skillet and warm it over medium heat.
  • Add the cooked meatballs to the skillet and turn them gently to coat with sauce. Let them simmer for 3 minutes.
  • Place one mozzarella round on each meatball, then set an olive half in the center of the cheese to form the eye.

Notes

Use a spoon to nestle the mozzarella so it softens slightly from the warm sauce without sliding off. If the meatballs seem dry, add a tablespoon of the marinara to the meat mixture before shaping. Leftovers reheat well in a covered skillet with a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian
Equipment: Mixing Bowl, Baking Sheet, Large Skillet