For as long as I can remember, I have loved dipping a great bread into a marinara based sauce. When we would go to an Italian restaurant, I would always order the bread dip as my meal. Just a little side salad and big old pile of breadsticks and dip was my jam and to be honest.. it still is, so today we are making my favorite marinara bread dip and you are going to love it!
Marinara with fresh and dried herbs, crispy ground beef, parmesan and sea salt is the perfect dip to serve along side focaccia, ciabatta or schiacciata as an appetizer, game day snack or dish to enjoy during game night.
Let’s get started…
This little treat is ready in about 15 minutes, so start it right before you want to serve it.
Begin by placing a skillet over medium heat and brown up 8 ounces of ground beef, pork or lamb. While the meat is browning, season it with some salt, black pepper and your favorite Italian spice blend.
Add 28 ounces of crushed tomatoes (any Italian crushed tomatoes either plain or with basil is great here!), 1/2 cup of fresh shredded parmesan, about 2 tablespoons of fresh finely chopped parsley, a teaspoon of dried Italian herbs and some additional sea salt and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook until you are ready to serve.
It will just get thicker and better as is simmers, so no rush here.
Do a quick taste test before you serve this up and if it doesn’t absolutely pop in your mouth then you need more salt. Tomato sauce needs salt to bring out the very best in it and of course tossing a little extra parmesan over the top of the bowl wouldn’t hurt either…
This meaty, rich, herby, cheesy marinara bread dip is just perfect as an appetizer before Sunday dinner, a wonderful way to welcome friends to game night or a great snack while you’re watching the big game.
Serve with crusty bread and a nice drink.
Buon appetito!
Marinara Bread Dip
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of ground beef, pork or lamb
- 1 large cloves of garlic, finely minced
- sea salt, black pepper and an Italian spice blend
- 28 ounces of crushed tomatoes (plain or with basil)
- 1/2 cup of parmesan, shredded
- 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon of dried Italian herbs
- crusty bread for serving
Instructions
- Brown 8 ounces of ground beef, pork or lamb in a skillet and season with sea salt, black pepper and your favorite Italian spice blend
- Add a large finely minced clove of garlic and cook for about 60 seconds while stirring
- Add 28 ounces of crushed tomatoes, 1/2 cup of shredded parmesan, 2 tablespoons of fresh finely chopped parsley and a teaspoon of dried Italian herbs
- Bring to a simmer and simmer until ready to serve
- Serve with crusty bread
Reader Interactions