italian meatball sandwich casserole

Italian Meatball Sandwich Casserole

1/3 cup chopped scallions
1/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1 pound ground beef
16 ounces Italian-style bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
3 cups spaghetti sauce
1 cup water
2 cloves garlic, minced

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).

Mix together onions, bread crumbs, cheese and ground beef. Roll into 1 inch diameter balls, and place in a baking pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until beef is no longer pink. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Arrange the bread cubes in a single layer in an ungreased 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Mix together the cream cheese, mayonnaise, Italian seasoning and black pepper until smooth. Spread this mixture over each bread cube. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the grated mozzarella cheese.

In a large bowl, mix together spaghetti sauce, water, and garlic. Gently stir in meatballs. Pour over the bread and cheese mixture in the baking pan. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes, or until heated through.

Makes 5 to 7 servings

Servings per recipe: 5; amount per serving Calories 1108 Protein 40g Total Fat 75g Sodium 1885mg Cholesterol 176mg Carbohydrates 67g Fiber 6g