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Someone holding an Italian Dunker while dipping it into some marinara sauce with a baking sheet filled with more Italian Dunkers underneath.

Italian Dunkers

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  • Author: Erin Jensen
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner/Entree
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: Italian-Inspired

Description

This super easy Italian Dunkers recipe is a childhood classic that makes a perfect weeknight dinner that the whole family will love!


Ingredients

Scale

Herby Garlic Butter:

  • 56 tablespoons butter, softened (regular or plant-based)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
  • pinch of kosher salt

Italian Dunkers:

  • 8 hot dog buns
  • 8oz block of mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • marinara sauce for dunking

Instructions

  1. Butter Mixture: Put the Herby Garlic Butter ingredients in a small bowl and mix to fully combine. 
  2. Make Dunkers: Open and pull apart each hot dog bun into two pieces. Spread some of the butter mixture on top of each hot dog bun. Continue with the rest of the buns and place them on a sheet pan. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top of each one. 
  3. Broil: Turn the oven broiler on high and place the oven rack on the second notch from the top. Place the pan of dunkers under the broiler for 3-5 minutes or until golden brown.
  4. Serve: Enjoy with a small dish of marinara sauce for dunking!

Notes

  • Loaf Bread Version: option to make Italian Dunkers with a 15oz loaf of Italian Bread. For this version, you will use 1 stick of butter, 1/3 cup of total fresh herbs, and 2 teaspoons garlic for the Herby Garlic Butter. You will use a bread knife to cut the loaf in half, lengthwise, and then spread the butter mixture on each half. Add cheese and broil as instructed above. Then cut into thick strips to serve.
  • Marinara Sauce: option to use a store-bought marinara sauce to keep it simple or make our super easy pasta sauce!
  • Dairy Free: use a plant-based butter and a dairy-free alternative cheese.
  • Gluten Free: simply use your favorite gluten-free bread or buns.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6oz
  • Calories: 198
  • Sugar: 3.3 g
  • Sodium: 498.2 mg
  • Fat: 8.4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 20.6 g
  • Protein: 12.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 24.5 mg