Classic Marinara & Meatballs Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls
This recipe combines classic marinara and meatballs with a fun, edible garlic bread bowl for a comforting and satisfying meal. Perfect for a cozy dinner, it's a hearty dish that brings together crispy garlic bread and rich, saucy spaghetti.
Equipment
- Oven
- Knife
- Small bowl
- Baking sheet
- Large pot
- Saucepan
Ingredients
For the Garlic Bread Bowls:
- 4 medium-sized round crusty bread rolls like sourdough boules, ciabatta rolls, or even large Kaiser rolls
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
For the Spaghetti & Filling:
- 1 lb spaghetti
- Water for boiling
- Salt for pasta water
- 24 oz jar marinara sauce or homemade
- 12 pre-cooked meatballs or homemade, approximately 1.5-inch diameter
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
- Extra grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)
Instructions
Garlic Bread Bowls
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Slice off the top third of each bread roll to create a lid, then hollow out the inside, leaving a sturdy shell.
- Combine melted butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese in a small bowl.
- Brush the inside and rim of each hollowed bread roll and the inside of the lids with the garlic-butter mixture, then place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 8-12 minutes until golden brown and toasted, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Spaghetti & Filling
- While the bread bowls bake, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then cook the spaghetti until al dente and drain well.
- In a saucepan, warm the marinara sauce and meatballs, simmering until thoroughly heated.
- Add the drained spaghetti directly into the warmed marinara sauce and meatballs, tossing to coat.
- Spoon the spaghetti and meatballs mixture into each toasted garlic bread bowl.
- Garnish with fresh basil and/or extra Parmesan, then serve immediately with the toasted bread lids for dipping.
Notes
For extra flavor, you can toast the hollowed-out bread crumbs with some garlic butter and use them as a topping for salads or soups. If you prefer a vegetarian option, simply omit the meatballs and add extra vegetables to your marinara sauce.