Meatball Casserole
Meatball Casserole is the perfect weeknight dinner to put together. It’s deliciously saucy, cheesy, and so easy to make!
If you’re on the lookout for a ridiculously delicious yet effortlessly easy meal, this dump and bake meatball casserole recipe is a one-way ticket to pasta paradise.
Loaded with savory meatballs, gooey cheese, and a symphony of rich, flavorful sauce, this dish is a celebration of simplicity and taste. The best part? It’s so easy to make that you’ll be wondering why you haven’t tried it sooner.
If you’re short on time, grab some frozen meatballs, and let the oven do the rest. And hey, if you’re feeling adventurous, check out this recipe for homemade meatballs and my super handy tips for freezing them for later use.
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Cheesy Meatball Casserole is the answer to your dreams of an easy meal that’s loaded with flavor. With layers of pasta, bubbling cheese, and succulent meatballs, this casserole is as comforting as comfort food can be. Plus it’s so easy.
Made with frozen cooked meatballs, this recipe is a game-changer for busy evenings or lazy weekends when you want maximum flavor with minimum effort. Saucy, easy, and cheesy is the name of the game for our meatball casserole so let’s dig in!
Why Make This Recipe
- It’s saucy – I love a good saucy pasta!
- Easy – This is a dump and bake casserole, my friends. Doesn’t get much easier than that!
- Cheesy – The only thing cheesier is my husband’s dad jokes.
Ingredient Notes
- Cooked pasta — Use your favorite pasta! Some options are spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne.
- Marinara sauce — Your favorite brand or homemade recipe will do! You could even use your favorite pasta sauce.
- Cheddar cheese — Mild, medium, or sharp – whatever floats your boat!
- Italian seasoning — Made of basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram, this a kitchen must have! But if you’re out, you can mix up your own or use some combination of the above spices to substitute.
- Mozzarella cheese — The mild flavor and smooth elastic texture of mozzarella is what gives pizza and cheesy pastas like this one that satisfying experience.
- Parmesan cheese — Parmesan is a hard cheese with a unique nutty flavor and rich umami making it the perfect grated topper for pastas and salads.
- Frozen meatballs — These are soooo convenient, but feel free to make your own if you want/need to control the ingredients.
Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
How To Make Meatball Casserole
Making casseroles is a great way to save time and money. Check out these casseroles for more flavorful ideas your family will love.
Get complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card further below.
Step 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C. If you don’t have cooked pasta on hand, cook pasta for about 5-6 minutes and allow to drain completely. Grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish with oil and add a third cup of the marinara sauce to the bottom of the baking dish.
Step 2. Place the cooked and cooled pasta in the baking dish and sprinkle it with cheddar cheese.
Step 3. Arrange all the frozen meatballs on top.
Step 4. Next, add half of the remaining marinara sauce and the Italian seasoning.
Step 5. Finish by topping with remaining marinara sauce and cheese. Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes.
Step 6. When done, remove it from the oven and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Pro Tips
- If using fresh meatballs, make sure your pasta is fully cooked before assembling the casserole. The cooking time can be reduced since the meatballs aren’t frozen.
- For a golden and bubbly top, broil the casserole for a few minutes at the end of the baking time.
- Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps the flavors meld, and it makes it easier to cut and serve.
- Add fresh herbs like basil or parsley just before serving for a burst of fresh flavor. This adds a nice contrast to the baked casserole.
- We don’t recommend making this with uncooked pasta as it will not cook all the way through while baking.
Delicious Variations
- Italian Sausage — Use ground Italian sausage to make fresh meatballs. Use Parsley instead of Italian seasoning. Cook for 15 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through.
- More Flavor – Add garlic powder, onion powder, fresh basil, fresh parsley, or your favorite fresh chopped herbs to the tomato sauce.
- Mediterranean — Make a Greek-inspired dish using chopped black or Kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, and Feta cheese in place of Mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Sloppy Joe Style — Use Sloppy Joe sauce in place of marinara to put a sloppy spin on this casserole!
- Healthier – Bake this with ground turkey meatballs or chicken meatballs.
Prep And Storage
- Prep Ahead – If desired, assemble the casserole the day before, cover tightly, and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Store – Allow to cool completely. Wrap tightly with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freeze – Allow it to cool, wrap it tightly, and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Reheat – Thaw the frozen casserole in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat it in the oven until it reaches the desired temperature. Make sure it’s heated through.
FAQs
Yes, you can make a keto meatball casserole or low-carb version by omitting pasta or replacing it with alternatives like zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice.
Yes, vegetables like bell peppers, onions, or spinach can be added for extra flavor and nutrition.
Ensure you have enough sauce in between the layers, and consider covering the casserole with foil during part of the baking time to retain moisture.
Similar Recipes
- Baked Ravioli Casserole.
- Hamburger Helper Casserole.
- Walking Taco Casserole.
- Baked Tortellini Casserole.
Serve With:
- This tossed salad is an ideal side dish.
- Whip up some frozen garlic bread in air fryer for an easy accompaniment.
- Refreshing fruit salad provides the perfect balance.
Recommended Tools
- A handy digital thermometer to check your food for doneness.
- An awesome casserole dish for baking this recipe.
- A quality set of spices for adding great flavor.
- For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
More Casserole Recipes
Don’t miss out! Be sure to try more of my easy and delicious casseroles!
Thank you for reading my meatball casserole recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.
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Meatball Casserole
Ingredients
- 11 ounces (300g) cooked pasta
- 14 ounces (420g) marinara sauce store-bought
- 1 cup (110g) cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup (110g) mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (55g) parmesan cheese
- 22 frozen meatballs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C.
- If you don’t have cooked pasta in hand, cook pasta for about 5-6 minutes and allow to drain completely. Don’t rinse with cold water.
- Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with oil. Add a third of a cup of the marinara sauce at the bottom.
- Add all the pasta in the baking dish. Sprinkle the top of the cheddar cheese.
- Arrange all the frozen meatballs on the cheese. Add half of the marinara sauce, the italian seasoning, half of the mozzarella cheese and half of the parmesan cheese. Repeat again with the marinara sauce and the cheese.
- Place in the middle of the oven and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
- If using fresh meatballs, make sure your pasta is fully cooked before assembling the casserole. The cook time can be reduced since the meatballs aren’t frozen.
- For a golden and bubbly top, broil the casserole for a few minutes at the end of the baking time.
- Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps the flavors meld, and it makes it easier to cut and serve.
- Add fresh herbs like basil or parsley just before serving for a burst of fresh flavor. This adds a nice contrast to the baked casserole.
- Storage – keep tightly covered or in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to 5 days.
This looks so good! I’m excited to try it