Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

Possibly the most perfect comfort food, this meatball casserole is a dump-and-bake meal that your whole family will love! There is virtually no prep work – it utilizes uncooked pasta and frozen meatballs! – and it all bakes in the oven in about 45 minutes!

 

Easy Meatball Casserole Recipe

• The perfect weeknight dinner! No need to thaw the meatballs or cook the pasta ahead of time! This meatball casserole can be prepped in just minutes which makes it perfect for a busy weeknight.
• It’s so versatile! Feel free to switch it up! Try adding fresh spinach, sauteed mushrooms, or roasted zucchini. Add your family’s favorite herbs – fresh or dried! You can also use chicken or turkey meatballs instead of beef.

Ingredients for Cheesy Meatball Casserole

• Uncooked Pasta: We usually have a box of rotini in the pantry but you can use your favorite short cut of pasta. Penne, fusilli, or rigatoni would all work as well.
• Spaghetti Sauce: Prego or Rao’s are the two brands we buy most often but you can use any. You’ll mix the sauce with water so that it cooks the pasta right in the oven.
• Frozen Meatballs: I prefer Italian meatballs for this casserole but you can use your family’s favorite.
• Cheese: I love whole milk mozzarella for this meatball bake recipe. And I like to shred it myself so that it melts beautifully into the meatballs.

How to Make Baked Meatball Casserole

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix uncooked pasta, one jar of spaghetti sauce, and 24 ounces of water in a large baking dish. Add the remaining jar of spaghetti sauce on top.

Add the frozen meatballs and toss to coat in the spaghetti sauce keeping them above the pasta. Try to keep the pasta submerged in the sauce/water so that it cooks evenly.

Cover tightly with tin foil. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until the pasta is cooked al dente and the edges of the casserole are bubbling.

Top with shredded cheese.

Bake for a few more minutes until the cheese melts. Broil for 1-2 minutes until the cheese starts turning golden brown on top.

Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and enjoy!

Tips for Making Meatball Casserole

• Use the 24 ounce spaghetti jar to measure the water! After you’ve added the sauce to the pasta, fill the empty jar with water, pop the lid on, and give it a few shakes to loosen any leftover sauce from the sides of the jar and add it to the pasta. This way you don’t have to dirty a measuring cup AND you get every last bit of spaghetti sauce out of the jar!
• Let it rest before serving! This will allow the liquid to redistribute back into the pasta so it’s not watery.

Make Ahead Instructions

• This meatball bake is the perfect make-ahead meal!
• Prep it over the weekend and you’ve got easy lunches or dinners to reheat throughout the week!
• You can also prep the casserole without baking it and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Then bake according to the recipe instructions and enjoy!

Storing Leftover Meatball Casserole

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Reheating Baked Meatball Casserole

• Reheat meatball casserole, covered with aluminum foil, in a 350-degree oven until warmed through.
• Or reheat in the microwave in 30-60 second increments until warmed through.
• Season to taste before serving!

Try these easy casserole recipes next!

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