If you’re looking for a fun, festive, and downright adorable recipe this Halloween, you’ve hit the jackpot with this Meatball Mummies Recipe. I absolutely love how these bite-sized mummies turn out—juicy, flavorful meatballs wrapped in golden, flaky dough strips with cute candy eyes that make everyone smile. Whether you’re cooking for your kids, hosting a party, or just craving a playful dinner, this recipe brings whimsy and deliciousness together in the best way possible.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Playful Presentation: Kids and adults alike love the cute mummy look with candy eyeballs that bring a smile to the table.
- Simple Ingredients: You probably already have what you need in your pantry and fridge, making this an easy last-minute festive treat.
- Versatile & Fun: Perfect for Halloween parties, themed lunches, or snacks that get everyone talking and reaching for seconds.
- Flavor-packed: Juicy meatballs seasoned just right, wrapped in buttery crescent roll dough, and served with tangy marinara dip.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients come together to create a perfect balance of juicy, savory meatballs wrapped in light and flaky dough. When shopping, pick fresh ground beef and good-quality crescent roll dough for best results.
- Lean ground beef: Lean works best to keep these mummies tender without excess grease pooling while cooking.
- Breadcrumbs: Helps to bind the meatballs and keeps them nice and moist inside.
- Parmesan cheese: Adds a subtle, cheesy depth that’s a game changer in meatballs.
- Egg: The natural binder that holds our meatballs together perfectly.
- Italian seasoning: A blend of herbs that brings that classic Italian flavor we all crave.
- Minced dried onion: Intensifies flavor without adding moisture, which can make meatballs soggy.
- Garlic powder: A must-have to add warmth and a little punch.
- Crescent roll dough: The magic wrapping that turns meatballs into adorable mummies.
- Candy eyes: For that fun and spooky finishing touch—grab some from your baking aisle around Halloween.
- Marinara sauce: The perfect dipping sauce that complements the savory meatballs beautifully.
Variations
I love how easy it is to make this Meatball Mummies Recipe your own. Feel free to experiment with seasonings and dough, or tweak things to fit your dietary needs without compromising the fun.
- Ground Meat Switch-Up: I’ve tried using ground turkey or chicken for a lighter twist, and it works just as well—just watch the cooking time since they cook faster.
- Herb & Spice Variations: Sometimes I add a bit of crushed red pepper flakes for some heat or swap Italian seasoning for taco seasoning when in the mood for a fun Mexican twist!
- Vegetarian Version: I’ve made these with plant-based ground meat substitutes and vegetarian crescent dough to keep things fun and inclusive.
- Dough Options: Using puff pastry instead of crescent roll dough creates an even flakier, richer wrapping if you want to impress guests.
How to Make Meatball Mummies Recipe
Step 1: Mix and Shape Your Meatballs
First things first: in a large bowl, mix your lean ground beef with breadcrumbs, parmesan, egg, Italian seasoning, dried onion, and garlic powder. I like to use my hands for this—it helps me feel when the mixture is just right and evenly combined. Then divide the mixture into 8 equal portions and roll each into a log shape. These are your mummies, ready to get wrapped!
Step 2: Cook the Meat Logs
You have two options here: I usually pan-fry my meatballs in a medium skillet over medium heat for about 10 minutes, turning a couple times so they brown evenly. This helps develop great flavor. But if you want to keep things easier, feel free to bake them in a 350°F oven for about 12 minutes. They don’t need to cook fully because they’ll finish in the oven wrapped in dough. Once cooked, set them aside on paper towels to cool slightly.
Step 3: Wrap Your Mummies
While your meat logs rest, unroll your crescent roll dough and slice it into thin, long strips. Now, here’s the fun part: start wrapping the dough strips around each meat log like a mummy bandage, leaving a small space near the top for their spooky candy eyes. Don’t worry about perfection; uneven strips give them character! Place your mummies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 4: Bake and Add Eyes
Bake your wrapped meatball mummies in the oven at 350°F for 12-15 minutes, or until the dough turns golden and slightly puffed. Remove from the oven and while they’re still warm, use a dab of warm marinara sauce to stick those candy eyes onto each mummy’s face. Instant cuteness!
Pro Tips for Making Meatball Mummies Recipe
- Don’t Overmix the Meat: When combining ingredients, gently mix to keep meatballs tender, avoiding dense mummies.
- Cut Thin Dough Strips: Thin strips bake easily and look more like mummy bandages—thicker strips may remain doughy.
- Add Eyes Last: Attach candy eyes after baking so they don’t melt or lose shape in the oven.
- Pat Meatballs Dry: If you pan-fry, drain excess grease on paper towels to prevent soggy dough wrapping.
How to Serve Meatball Mummies Recipe
Garnishes
For garnish, I like a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley or basil for a pop of color and freshness—it cuts through the richness nicely. Sometimes a dash of grated parmesan over the marinara bowl adds a little extra cheesy oomph that everyone loves.
Side Dishes
Pair these mummies with garlic bread or a crisp Caesar salad for an easy meal. My kids also enjoy carrot sticks and ranch when eating these as snacks. And of course, don’t forget plenty of marinara sauce for dipping—that’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser.
Creative Ways to Present
For Halloween parties, I’ve served Meatball Mummies Recipe on a platter with edible “spooky webs” made from string cheese shreds or thin egg noodles. Another fun idea is using a dark platter or a faux graveyard backdrop with toy tombstones to amp up the festive vibe. Kids always get a kick out of these themed presentations!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To keep the crescent dough from getting soggy, I like to reheat on a wire rack in the oven so air can circulate instead of wrapping them tightly which traps steam.
Freezing
You can freeze cooked meat logs before wrapping if you want to prep ahead of time. I wrap individual logs tightly and freeze them for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, thaw overnight and wrap with dough before baking. You can also freeze fully baked mummies, but the dough gets a bit softer on reheating.
Reheating
To reheat, I pop them in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes until warmed through and dough looks crispy again. If you’re in a hurry, the microwave works but the dough won’t stay as crisp.
FAQs
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Can I make Meatball Mummies Recipe vegetarian?
Absolutely! You can swap the ground beef with plant-based meat alternatives or even mashed chickpeas mixed with seasonings to form meatballs. Use vegetarian crescent dough to keep it fully vegetarian, and they’ll still be just as fun and tasty.
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What kind of cheese works best?
Parmesan cheese is ideal because it adds a subtle salty, nutty flavor without overwhelming the meatballs. You could also try pecorino Romano or a finely grated mozzarella blend if you want a milder, creamier taste.
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Can I prep the meatballs ahead of time?
Yes, prepping the meatballs in advance saves time. You can form and cook the meat logs a day ahead, then wrap the dough and bake right before serving. This helps especially for busy party days or lunch prep.
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What’s the best way to keep the dough crispy?
Baking on a parchment-lined sheet allows air to circulate around the dough. Avoid covering when storing leftovers and reheat in the oven on a wire rack to re-crisp the outer layer.
Final Thoughts
I remember the first time I made this Meatball Mummies Recipe—it was a total hit, especially with my kids who got super excited about “eating mummies.” It’s such a playful way to sneak in a wholesome meal and have fun at the same time. If you’re after something festive yet easy, this dish is going to become your go-to. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll be making Meatball Mummies for every spooky occasion (or whenever you want a delightful dinner with a twist!). Give it a go and watch the smiles—and maybe a little bit of friendly competition for the last mummy!
PrintMeatball Mummies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 meatball mummies
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Meatball Mummies are a fun and festive Halloween recipe featuring seasoned ground beef meatballs wrapped in crescent roll dough to look like mummies. Perfect as a spooky appetizer or main dish, these savory treats are baked until golden and served with marinara sauce for dipping. The combination of ground beef, Italian seasonings, and parmesan cheese creates a flavorful meatball mixture, while crescent roll strips add a delightful crispy crust to complete the mummy look.
Ingredients
Meatball Mixture
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon minced dried onion
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Assembly
- 1 (8 ounce) can crescent roll dough
- Candy eyes
- Marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the meatball mummies.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, egg, Italian seasoning, minced dried onion, and garlic powder until fully blended.
- Shape the Meatballs: Divide the meat mixture into 8 equal portions and roll each into a log shape to form the base of the mummies.
- Cook the Meatballs: You can pan-fry or bake the meat logs. For stovetop cooking, sauté them in a medium skillet over medium heat for about 10 minutes, flipping once or twice, until browned but not fully cooked. Alternatively, bake the meat logs in the preheated oven for about 12 minutes.
- Cool the Meatballs: Transfer the cooked meat logs to a paper towel-lined plate to cool slightly before wrapping.
- Prepare Dough Strips: Slice the crescent roll dough into long thin strips for wrapping the meatballs.
- Wrap the Meatballs: Wrap each meat log with strips of crescent roll dough, leaving space for the eyes to show through to create the mummy effect.
- Bake the Wrapped Meatballs: Place the wrapped meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes until the dough is golden brown and cooked through.
- Add Eyes: Remove from the oven and while the mummy meatballs are still warm, use a small amount of marinara sauce to attach candy eyes onto the dough.
- Serve: Serve the meatball mummies warm with additional marinara sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- These Meatball Mummies make a perfect Halloween-themed appetizer, lunch, or dinner option that kids and adults will love.
- You can pan-fry or bake the meatballs before wrapping; both methods work well to achieve a juicy interior.
- Be sure to leave gaps when wrapping the dough strips so the candy eyes have space to be visible.
- Serve with warm marinara sauce to complement the savory flavors and for dipping fun.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 meatball mummy
- Calories: 318
- Sugar: 2 grams
- Sodium: 343 milligrams
- Fat: 17 grams
- Saturated Fat: 7 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 21 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Protein: 20 grams
- Cholesterol: 79 milligrams