If You Have Frozen Meatballs And Hawaiian Rolls, You Have The Base For Mini Mouth-Watering Appetizers

Since there are many creative ways to use Hawaiian rolls, such as turning them into French toast, croutons, or miniature apple pies, transforming these bread-like snacks into mouthwatering appetizers is just as inventive. In fact, the primary ingredients you need to make a crowd-friendly pan of delicious hors d'oeuvres with Hawaiian sweet rolls include frozen meatballs, marinara sauce, and shredded mozzarella cheese. With adequate preparation, these versatile ingredients come together to make mini meatball subs you can easily eat over a napkin.

Not to mention, if you already enjoy ham and cheese sandwiches on Hawaiian rolls, stuffing these sweet-tasting foods with savory meatballs and marinara sauce is another legitimate way to get your sweet and salty fix. To give this delicious recipe a try, start by placing an entire package of Hawaiian rolls in a casserole dish and cutting a hole into the center of each one. You can do this with a sharp, serrated knife. Just make sure to leave a decent portion of bread intact at the base of each roll.

To assemble, heat the frozen meatballs and marinara sauce together over the stove, and then add a saucy meatball into the well of each hole. From here, brush melted butter along the sides of each roll. Then, all you need to do is top the rolls with extra marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese before baking. In no time, you'll have a hot pan of tasty, Italian-inspired appetizers worth sharing.

To ensure these meatball-stuffed rolls are easy to eat with your hands, you may want to take a few precautionary steps during preparation. To avoid these appetizers from becoming soggy in the oven, first place a small layer of cheese at the base of each holed-out roll, followed by a small amount of sauce and meatballs. Adding a thin layer of cheese prevents the sauce from dripping straight through the bottom of each roll during baking.

Speaking of cheese, feel free to get creative with your selection and pair mozzarella with other Italian cheeses that have similar melting properties, such as Asiago or fontina. You can also top these meatball-stuffed rolls with some pecorino or Parmesan cheese for a more flavorful finish. Besides meatballs and marinara sauce, you can also play around with the extras you stuff into each Hawaiian roll. Feel free to halve each meatball (to make room in each well) and fill each roll with a combination of cooked meatballs, pepperoni, canned artichoke hearts, sautéed peppers and onions, or jarred pepperoncini peppers.

Lastly, heat these tasty snacks in your oven at a medium temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit. To keep them from browning too early, cover your casserole with foil during the first 10 minutes of baking. You can then remove the foil and bake for an extra 10 to 15 minutes, and add some fresh parsley or basil before enjoying.