Anak, this is what happens when you're craving a meatball sub but you need to feed the whole barangay! I learned this from my kumpare's Italian wife at a potluck in Daly City — she brought this beautiful casserole and I said 'Ay, paano mo ginawa yan?' Now I make it for every family gathering because it's easier than making individual sandwiches and everyone goes crazy for it. The bread gets all soaked with the sauce like sopas, but with meatballs! My apo asks for this more than my adobo, can you imagine?
Preheat your oven to 400°F. In a bowl, mix together the green onions, breadcrumbs, and parmesan cheese. Add the ground beef and mix gently with your hands — don't overwork it or your meatballs will be tough, ha. (Wet your hands with cold water when rolling the meatballs so they don't stick)
Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls — about the size of a golf ball. Place them on a rack set over a baking pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes until they're no longer pink inside. (Using a rack lets the fat drip away so your meatballs aren't swimming in grease)
While the meatballs are cooking, turn your oven down to 350°F. Arrange the bread slices in one layer in a 13x9 baking dish — don't grease it, the bread will soak up all the flavors.
Mix the softened cream cheese, mayo, Italian seasoning, and pepper until smooth. Spread this mixture over the bread slices — get into all the corners, anak. (Make sure your cream cheese is really soft or you'll have lumps)
Sprinkle half the mozzarella over the cream cheese layer. In another bowl, mix the spaghetti sauce, water, and minced garlic. Add your cooked meatballs and stir gently. (The water thins the sauce so it soaks into the bread better)
Pour the meatball mixture over everything in the casserole dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes until it's bubbly and heated through. (Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving — it's lava hot and needs to set up a bit)
Naku, this is perfect for potlucks because you can make it ahead and just pop it in the oven when you get there. My neighbor always asks me to bring this to the block party. Serve with a simple green salad — the casserole is rich enough on its own. Leftovers are even better the next day!
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