When you think of Christmas Meals, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s a big formal dinner with tons of different dishes. While that’s lovely, sometimes you just need something fun, easy, and incredibly delicious that everyone can gather around. Something that feels special without keeping you in the kitchen for hours.
Well, I think I have just the thing for you. These cheesy meatball biscuit bombs are a total crowd pleaser. Imagine juicy meatballs with a gooey, melted mozzarella center, all wrapped in soft, flaky biscuit dough. It’s the kind of holiday food that disappears in minutes. Let’s make it!
Jump To:
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
First off, this recipe is incredibly simple to make. It uses refrigerated biscuit dough, which is a huge time saver. Honestly, it’s one of the best kitchen shortcuts for busy holiday prep. No need to make dough from scratch unless you really want to!
It’s also a fantastic party food. The biscuit bombs are arranged in a ring, almost like a festive wreath. Guests can just pull one off and dip it. It’s interactive, fun, and makes for a great centerpiece on your appetizer table. This is one of my favorite Christmas Appetizers for that reason.
And let’s talk about the flavor. You get savory meatballs, rich garlic butter, and that amazing surprise of melted cheese inside each bite. It’s a combination that kids and adults both go crazy for. It’s a comforting and satisfying part of any Christmas Meals lineup.
Ingredients
The ingredient list is wonderfully straightforward. You probably have many of these items in your pantry already, especially during the holiday season. Nothing too fancy, just good, simple flavors coming together.
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup chopped parsley, divided
- 8 garlic cloves, minced, divided
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- Kosher salt & black pepper, to taste
- 1 pound mozzarella cheese, cubed
- 2 cans refrigerated biscuits (such as Pillsbury flaky grands)
- ½ stick (4 tablespoons) butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Marinara sauce, to serve
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare The Meatballs
First things first, let’s get the oven ready. Preheat it to 450°F. While it’s heating up, grab a large bowl. Add your ground beef, the Italian breadcrumbs, one egg, and half of your chopped parsley. You’ll use the other half later for garnish.
Now add in about one tablespoon of the minced garlic, half of the Parmesan cheese, and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Use your hands to gently mix everything together. The key here is not to overwork the meat, or your meatballs can become tough. Just mix until everything is combined.
Step 2: Stuff And Bake The Meatballs
Time for the fun part! Scoop the meat mixture into small balls, about one and a half tablespoons each. You can use a small cookie scoop for this to keep them all the same size. Press a cube of mozzarella cheese right into the center of each ball.
Make sure to seal the meat tightly and evenly all the way around the cheese. This is important to prevent the cheese from leaking out during baking. Place the meatballs on a nonstick baking sheet. Bake them for about 6 to 8 minutes, just until they are browned on the outside. They don’t need to be fully cooked through at this point.
Once they’re browned, take them out of the oven. Now, reduce the oven temperature down to 350°F. Let the meatballs cool down for a few minutes so you can handle them without burning your fingers.
Step 3: Assemble The Biscuit Bombs
While the meatballs are cooling, open up your cans of refrigerated biscuits. Since you’re using the flaky layer kind, you can carefully split each biscuit in half horizontally. Just peel the layers apart. This will give you a total of 32 thin biscuit dough rounds.
Take one of your cooled meatballs and wrap a biscuit dough round snugly around it. Pinch the seams together at the bottom to seal it up. Repeat this for all the meatballs. This part is great to do with kids if you have little helpers in the kitchen.
Step 4: Bake The Ring
Line a fresh baking sheet with parchment paper. This will make cleanup so much easier. Place a small, oven safe bowl in the center of the sheet. This will be your guide for creating the ring shape.
Arrange the biscuit wrapped meatballs snugly around the bowl, with the seam side down. They should be touching to create that pull apart effect. Once you have your ring formed, you can remove the bowl from the center. Bake the ring at 350°F until the biscuits are lightly golden, which should take about 10 to 12 minutes.
Step 5: Add The Garlic Butter And Finish
While the ring is baking, you can make the delicious garlic butter topping. In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, the Italian seasoning, and the rest of your minced garlic. Give it a good stir.
After the initial 10 to 12 minutes of baking, take the ring out of the oven. Brush the garlic butter mixture generously all over the tops of the golden biscuits. Don’t be shy with it! The butter will soak into the dough and add so much flavor.
Return the ring to the oven for another 5 minutes. This helps the biscuits finish cooking and get that beautiful deep golden color. Your kitchen will smell amazing!
Step 6: Serve And Enjoy
Once it’s done, carefully remove it from the oven. Sprinkle the ring with the remaining Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Place a small bowl of your favorite marinara sauce in the center for dipping. This makes for a wonderful presentation for your Christmas Meals spread. Serve it warm while the cheese is still gooey.
How To Store Leftovers
If you somehow have any leftovers, storing them is easy. Let the meatball bombs cool completely to room temperature. Then, place them in an airtight container. They will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, you can place them on a baking sheet and warm them in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes, or until heated through. This will help the biscuits crisp up again. You can also use a microwave, but the biscuits will be softer. This is a very convenient easy Christmas food to have on hand.
Tips
Want to switch things up? Try using a mix of ground pork or Italian sausage along with the ground beef for extra flavor. You could also experiment with different cheeses inside. Pepper jack would add a nice little kick!
Feel free to use your favorite dipping sauces. While marinara is classic, a creamy pesto dip or a spicy ranch would also be fantastic. This is a great recipe to customize based on what you love.
If you’re short on time, you can even prepare the meatballs a day in advance. Just cook them, let them cool, and store them in the fridge. Then, all you have to do on party day is wrap them in biscuit dough and bake.
Conclusion
And there you have it! A truly fun and delicious addition to your holiday menu. This meatball bomb ring is more than just an appetizer; it’s an experience. It brings people together and adds a playful touch to your celebrations.
I hope this becomes one of your new favorite Christmas Meals to share with family and friends. It proves that amazing holiday food doesn’t have to be complicated. Enjoy every cheesy, delicious bite!
FAQ
Can I Make This Ahead Of Time?
Yes, you can. The best way is to cook the meatballs a day ahead and store them in the fridge. Assemble the ring right before you plan to bake it for the best results, as the biscuit dough can get soggy if it sits for too long.
What Kind Of Marinara Sauce Is Best?
Honestly, your favorite jarred marinara sauce will work wonderfully. This is all about making easy Christmas food. If you have a homemade sauce you love, that’s even better! A good quality store bought sauce is a great shortcut.
Can I Use Different Ground Meat?
Absolutely! Ground turkey, ground chicken, or mild Italian sausage are all great substitutes for ground beef. Each one will give the meatballs a slightly different flavor profile. It’s a great way to customize the recipe.
My Cheese Leaked Out, What Did I Do Wrong?
This usually happens if the meatball wasn’t sealed tightly around the cheese cube. Make sure you pinch the meat together firmly to create a solid seal. Also, using low moisture mozzarella cubes, rather than fresh mozzarella balls, can help prevent excess water from causing leaks.
Cheesy Meatball Biscuit Bombs
These cheesy meatball biscuit bombs feature juicy meatballs with a gooey, melted mozzarella center, all wrapped in soft, flaky biscuit dough. A fun, easy, and incredibly delicious holiday appetizer everyone will love.
Requirements
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, Italian breadcrumbs, egg, half of the chopped parsley, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, half of the Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
- Scoop meat mixture into 1 ½ tablespoon balls. Press a cube of mozzarella cheese into the center of each, sealing the meat tightly around it. Place on a nonstick baking sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes until browned. Reduce oven to 350°F. Let meatballs cool slightly.
- Split each refrigerated biscuit in half horizontally to create 32 thin dough rounds. Wrap one biscuit dough round snugly around each cooled meatball, pinching seams to seal.
- Line a fresh baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a small, oven-safe bowl in the center. Arrange the biscuit-wrapped meatballs snugly around the bowl, seam-side down, touching to form a ring. Remove the center bowl. Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes until biscuits are lightly golden.
- While baking, combine melted butter, Italian seasoning, and remaining minced garlic in a small bowl. Stir well.
- Remove the ring from the oven after 10-12 minutes. Brush garlic butter generously over the tops of the biscuits. Return to oven for another 5 minutes, or until deep golden.
- Carefully remove from oven. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Place a small bowl of marinara sauce in the center for dipping. Serve warm.
Notes
Try using a mix of ground pork or Italian sausage along with the ground beef for extra flavor. You could also experiment with different cheeses inside. Pepper jack would add a nice little kick!
Feel free to use your favorite dipping sauces. While marinara is classic, a creamy pesto dip or a spicy ranch would also be fantastic.
If you’re short on time, you can even prepare the meatballs a day in advance. Just cook them, let them cool, and store them in the fridge. Then, all you have to do on party day is wrap them in biscuit dough and bake.
To prevent cheese leaks, ensure the meatball is sealed tightly around the cheese cube. Using low moisture mozzarella cubes, rather than fresh mozzarella balls, can also help.
Nutrition
Calories
Sugar
Fat
Carbs
