Description
Hearty dump and bake meatball casserole delivers comfort on a plate with minimal kitchen effort. Pasta, marinara, and juicy meatballs meld into a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 24 meatballs (frozen or homemade)
Starches:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) short pasta (penne, ziti, rotini)
Sauces and Cheese:
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 3 cups water or chicken broth
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425°F and prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Layer uncooked pasta across the bottom of the dish, ensuring even distribution.
- Arrange frozen meatballs directly over the pasta in a single uniform layer.
- Pour marinara sauce evenly across the meatballs and pasta, coating all surfaces thoroughly.
- Add water or broth carefully around the edges of the dish to help pasta cook evenly.
- Sprinkle Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper across the entire casserole surface.
- Seal the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil to trap moisture and steam.
- Bake covered for 35 minutes, allowing pasta to absorb liquid and cook completely.
- Remove foil and gently stir the casserole to redistribute sauce and prevent sticking.
- Generously top the casserole with mozzarella and parmesan cheese, covering most of the surface.
- Return to oven uncovered and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden.
- Let casserole rest for 5 minutes after removing from oven to allow sauce to set.
- Optional: Garnish with fresh chopped parsley for added color and flavor before serving.
Notes
- Choose lean meatballs to reduce overall fat content and make the dish healthier for those watching their calorie intake.
- For gluten-free options, swap regular pasta with gluten-free pasta varieties like chickpea or rice pasta without compromising flavor.
- Try different cheese blends like provolone or adding a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for extra kick and personalization.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time and store in refrigerator to create a quick weeknight meal that saves precious cooking time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 417 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 560 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg