Description
Hearty Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole brings comfort and convenience to weeknight dinners with minimal prep. Cheesy, saucy pasta and savory meatballs merge into one delicious meal that saves you time and satisfies hungry families in just one simple dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 bag (14 ounces/397 grams) frozen precooked meatballs, thawed
Carbohydrates:
- 1 box (16 ounces/454 grams) rotini pasta, uncooked
- 1 jar (24 ounces/680 grams) pasta sauce
Dairy and Seasoning:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 cups water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Warm the oven to a scorching 425F (220C), preparing for a hassle-free culinary adventure.
- In a spacious baking vessel, unite uncooked rotini, water, robust pasta sauce, pre-thawed meatballs, and a whisper of kosher salt.
- Thoroughly blend the ingredients, ensuring each pasta strand is lavishly coated with savory sauce.
- Seal the dish completely with aluminum foil, creating a steamy environment for perfect pasta absorption.
- Slide the covered dish into the heated oven and allow it to transform for 30 minutes, letting flavors meld and pasta soften.
- Carefully extract the dish, unveil the foil, and generously cascade shredded mozzarella across the surface.
- Return the uncovered casserole to the oven, letting the cheese melt into a golden, bubbly landscape for an additional 10-15 minutes.
- Once emerged, permit the casserole a brief 5-minute rest, allowing ingredients to settle and temperatures to harmonize before serving.
Notes
- Swap regular pasta with whole wheat or gluten-free alternatives for dietary needs without compromising taste or texture.
- Keep extra sauce nearby to adjust moisture if pasta appears too dry during baking, ensuring perfectly cooked noodles.
- Customize meatball varieties like beef, turkey, or plant-based options to match personal preferences or nutritional requirements.
- Prevent cheese from burning by placing baking dish on lower oven rack during final uncovered baking stage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 559 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg