This one-pan Meatball Casserole is one in all my favourite household favorites once I need one thing easy, comforting, and fully hands-off. Made with pasta, meatballs, and marinara, it turns easy substances into a fast, straightforward dump and bake dinner. Tacky, hearty, and satisfying, it’s excellent for busy weeknights.
Why You’ll Love This Meatball Casserole Recipe
I really like this Meatball Casserole as a result of it turns a traditional household favourite right into a no-fuss, one-pan meal that’s simply as comforting as it’s straightforward to make.
- All of the consolation of pasta and meatballs with out additional pots or pans
- Every part bakes collectively in a single dish for straightforward prep and cleanup
- Tacky, hearty, and satisfying for busy weeknights
- Easy to customise together with your favourite sauce, cheese, or veggies
And if you happen to’re craving simpler recipes, attempt baking your meatballs into my do-it-yourself Garlic Bread Meatball Bombs, making hearty Meatball Subs, or going low-carb with Meatball Parmesan served over zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice, or alongside cauliflower breadsticks.
Elements Notes
- Pasta: Penne pasta, ziti, rotini, or rigatoni work greatest. Lengthy pasta, like fettuccine or spaghetti, may be damaged into small items earlier than cooking or left lengthy, like in my Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs.
- Meatballs: Italian meatballs or hen meatballs (frozen or do-it-yourself meatballs, totally cooked) are excellent.
- Sauce: Use your favourite pasta sauce, store-bought or do-it-yourself. Tomato basil is very flavorful.
- Broth: Low-sodium beef, hen, or vegetable broth, relying on the meatballs.
- Seasonings: Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and non-compulsory crimson pepper flakes.
- Cheese: Mozzarella works greatest; provolone or part-skim mozzarella may be substituted.
- Garnish: Herbs like contemporary parsley or contemporary basil, non-compulsory.
See the recipe card for full info on substances and portions.
Recipe Variations
- Swedish Meatball Casserole: Swap marinara for cream of mushroom soup and bitter cream.
- Spicy Meatball Casserole: Use sizzling Italian sausage meatballs or add additional crimson pepper flakes.
- Vegetarian Meatball Casserole: Use meatless meatballs, vegetable broth, and dairy-free cheese.
- Low-Carb Model: Substitute zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash for pasta.
- White Sauce Meatball Casserole: Substitute marinara with Alfredo sauce for a creamy twist.
- Tex-Mex Meatball Casserole: Swap marinara for salsa, use Monterey Jack cheese, and add contemporary cilantro.
How one can Make Meatball Casserole
- Combine the substances: Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, then add raw pasta, meatballs, marinara sauce, broth, and seasonings. Stir till the pasta is usually submerged within the liquid.
- Bake coated: Cowl the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake at 400°F for 40 minutes. Verify the pasta; if it isn’t al dente, bake a further 5 minutes.
- Add cheese: Take away foil and sprinkle mozzarella cheese (and just a little Parmesan cheese, if desired) on high. Bake uncovered for 5-10 minutes, till the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley and serve heat with garlic bread or a facet salad.
Recipe Ideas
- Use low-sodium broth to keep away from extra salt.
- Shred mozzarella contemporary for the most effective soften and tacky texture.
- Select a high-quality spaghetti sauce or for optimum taste.
- Verify pasta at 40 minutes, as baking instances can fluctuate by oven.
- Let the casserole relaxation 5 minutes earlier than serving to let flavors meld and cheese set.
- You may halve this recipe and make it in a 9×9 or 10×10 baking dish.
Storage directions
- Retailer: Maintain leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
- Reheat: Heat within the microwave or oven till heated via.
- Freeze: This casserole is just not freezer-friendly, because the pasta can grow to be mushy.
- Make Forward: Assemble as much as 8 hours upfront, cowl, and retailer within the fridge. Bake when prepared.
Extra Simple Casserole Recipes to Strive
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Preheat the oven to 400 F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
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Pour the dried noodles, meatballs, pasta sauce, broth, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and crimson pepper flakes into the dish. Stir round and attempt to push the pasta down so it’s largely coated by the sauce/liquid.
1 pound dried pasta, 28 ounce bag frozen meatballs, 24 ounce marinara sauce, 3 cups low sodium beef broth, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¾ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon crimson pepper flakes
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Tightly cowl in foil and bake for 40 minutes. Take away from the oven and see if the pasta is cooked to al dente. If it isn’t, cook dinner for a further 5 minutes.
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As soon as the pasta reaches al dente, high with the mozzarella cheese and return to the oven, uncovered, for about 5-10 minutes till the cheese is bubbly and melted.
2½ cups mozzarella cheese
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Serve heat topped with parsley and a crusty bread, if desired.
Recent parsley
- Retailer: Maintain leftovers within the fridge in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days.
- Reheat: Heat in microwave or oven till sizzling.
- Freeze: This recipe doesn’t freeze effectively as a result of the pasta will get mushy.
- Make Forward: Assemble as much as 8 hours forward, cowl, and refrigerate. Bake when prepared.
Ideas:
- Use low-sodium broth to keep away from extra salt.
- Shred mozzarella contemporary for the most effective soften.
- Select a high-quality spaghetti sauce.
- All the time examine pasta at 40 minutes-ovens fluctuate.
- Let casserole relaxation for five minutes earlier than serving.
Energy: 806kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 46g | Fats: 40g | Saturated Fats: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 3g | Monounsaturated Fats: 16g | Ldl cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 1130mg | Potassium: 1172mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 846IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 292mg | Iron: 4mg
