Meatball Poppers with Simple Marinara Sauce

4.80 from 15 votes

Meatball Poppers with Simple Marinara Sauce

If you love meatballs, you’ll love this easy Meatball Marinara Poppers Appetizer. Homemade or frozen meatballs are topped with a delicious homemade marinara sauce that is simple to make and full of flavor. It’s a great appetizer for the holidays!

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: servings

Author: Kristin Maxwell

Ingredients

40 Meatballs fresh or frozen
8 ounces Mozzarella Cheese, freshly grated
1 cup marinara sauce or any favorite red sauce
fresh minced parsley

Instructions

Line a baking sheet with foil. Place frozen meatballs on the tray and bake according to package instructions.
Remove meatballs from the oven and switch the oven to broil. Top meatballs with a spoonful of sauce and about a teaspoon or so of shredded Mozzarella. Place the pan under the broiler for several minutes, watching closely, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve immediately, with toothpicks for easy eating.

Notes

Use fresh Mozzarella if you can, instead of the pre-shredded package. The pre-shredded cheese you buy at the grocery store has preservatives that help keep the shreds from clumping, but also prevent proper melting. But the block of cheese and shred or slice yourself – it’s so much better!
Keep this recipe super easy and simple and use precooked, frozen meatballs and your favorite jarred pasta sauce.
Add a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley for color. Basil works too but can brown when chopped so I usually defer to parsley.
Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Freeze once meatball appetizers are completely cooled. To reheat, place in a casserole dish and cover with foil. Reheat at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes. Placing them in the deeper dish keeps the cheese from sticking to the foil.

Nutrition

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