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Easy Mummy Meatball Skillet: Best Spooky One-Pan Dinner

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A fun and easy Halloween dinner featuring juicy meatballs wrapped in pasta ‘bandages’ with olive eyes, all simmered in a rich marinara sauce. This one-pan meal is ready in 30 minutes and is sure to delight kids and adults alike.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (plain or Italian)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 8 lasagna noodles (or 6 fresh pasta sheets)
  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 12 black olives (sliced)
  • Fresh parsley or basil (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. If using dried lasagna noodles, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the noodles for about 6-7 minutes until pliable but still firm. Drain and rinse with cool water. Lay flat on a cutting board and cut each noodle lengthwise into 3-4 strips, about 1 inch wide.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix with your hands until just combined. Shape into 12 equal-sized meatballs, about 1.5 inches in diameter.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the meatballs for 2-3 minutes per side until nicely browned. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium and add marinara sauce to the skillet. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom. Let simmer for 1-2 minutes.
  5. Wrap each meatball with a pasta strip, leaving a small gap for the eyes. Place wrapped meatballs back into the skillet, nestled into the sauce.
  6. Cover the skillet and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 8-10 minutes until meatballs reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
  7. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the meatballs. Place a small dollop of cheese on each meatball where the eyes will go. Cover for 1-2 minutes until cheese melts.
  8. Place two olive slices on each melted cheese dollop to create eyes. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Cook lasagna noodles about 1 minute less than package directions to prevent breaking. Leave a visible gap when wrapping pasta strips for the eyes. Don’t overwork the meat mixture to keep meatballs tender. For best results, serve immediately while cheese is melted and pasta is tender.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween dinner, mummy meatballs, one-pan meal, spooky dinner, easy weeknight dinner, kid-friendly, meatball recipe

Find it online: https://leilameals.com/easy-mummy-meatball-skillet-best-spooky-one-pan-dinner/