Description
A warm and comforting Meatball Casserole loaded with gooey cheese, tender meatballs, and delicious pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef (or half beef, half Italian sausage)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
- OR: 20–24 frozen cooked meatballs
- For the Casserole:
- 12 oz cooked pasta (penne, rigatoni, or ziti)
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix all meatball ingredients until just combined.
- Form into 1–1½ inch balls.
- Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15–18 minutes, until browned and cooked through.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread the cooked pasta (or potatoes) in the bottom of the dish.
- Pour marinara sauce evenly over the pasta.
- Arrange the meatballs on top, nestling them slightly into the sauce.
- Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over the casserole, followed by the Parmesan.
- Add red pepper flakes if desired.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Uncover and bake for another 5–10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let it rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.
- Top with fresh parsley or basil before serving.
- Serve hot with garlic bread or a crisp green salad!
Notes
For a lighter version, swap in low-sugar marinara sauce or use ground turkey. Frozen meatballs can be used for convenience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 65mg