If you're looking for a simple recipe for busy weeknights, you'll love this easy meatball casserole recipe! It features simple ingredients with minimal prep - making it the perfect meal for your next family dinner.
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Easy recipes are my favorite to make for dinner, and this meatball pasta bake is no exception. If you're ever wondering what to do with meatballs, this dump-and-bake meatball recipe is sure to be an easy solution. (After all, what's better than delicious juicy tender meatballs in a new family favorite recipe?!)
You won't believe how easy it is to make a big pan of this casserole with just a few simple ingredients. The best part? Using frozen meatballs makes it a breeze! Trust me, this recipe is always a hit at parties and potlucks
And if you are a meatball lover, try these Cheese Stuffed Mexican Meatballs and serve them as an entree with rice or an appetizer. We love them both ways!
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Why You'll Love This Cheesy Meatball Casserole Recipe
Not convinced you should make this pasta bake with meatballs. Here's why your whole family is going to LOVE this frozen meatball casserole:
- Features basic ingredients - with common ingredients such as store-bought meatballs, pasta sauce, uncooked pasta, and cheese, a trip to the grocery may not even be required!
- Easy prep - meal prep will be so easy with casserole. It makes a great freezer meal as well.
- No cooking pasta - you don't have to cook the pasta in this dish. Just dump it uncooked into the pan.
- Delicious - between gooey cheese, flavorful spaghetti sauce added to penne pasta, and the perfect blend of seasonings, you'll have your family begging to make this again and again!
- Perfect for busy weeknights - prep only takes minutes and can be modified for the crockpot, so it makes a great dinner recipe for those busy nights!
- Great for using leftover meatballs - Meatball casserole with frozen meatballs is my favorite recipe for when I have leftover meatballs in the freezer that I need to use up.
Try our other dinner recipes, such as crock pot pork chops, cast iron skillet burgers, hamburger hashbrown casserole, and this one-pan ground beef and rice skillet. All of these recipes are simple comfort food meals.
Meatball Casserole Ingredients
- Uncooked pasta - I used rotini, but you can use any variation you'd like, such as ziti or penne pasta.
- Spaghetti sauce - Ideal thickness and flavor for this baked casserole, but marinara sauce can also be used.
- Milk - You'll need about 1 cup to make this dish creamy.
- Water - About 2 cups are used to cook the pasta.
- Meatballs - I used frozen Italian meatballs, but you can also use homemade or turkey meatballs.
- Seasoning - For flavor, you'll need garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, dried oregano, and salt.
- Shredded Cheese - Shredded mozzarella cheese is sprinkled on top.
- Garnish - Optionally, you can add parmesan cheese and herbs for garnish. A sprinkle of fresh basil is a nice addition.
How to Make Meatball Casserole: Step-by-Step
Step 1. Before you get started, heat the oven to 425F. Prep a baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
Step 2. In a 9x13 casserole dish, add the uncooked pasta, spaghetti sauce, milk, water, meatballs, and seasonings. Stir to combine. It's just an easy dump and recipe.
Step 3. Next, cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake the casserole for 45 minutes in the oven. Remove the foil and check if the pasta is done. It should be firm and cooked through. If the pasta needs more time, replace the foil and bake for several more minutes.
Step 4. Remove the foil from the casserole dish and sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. Bake for about ten additional minutes until you're left with gooey, melted, and bubbly cheese.
Step 5. For best results, let the casserole thicken for about 10 minutes, then serve hot with your favorite side dish, such as our favorite wedge Caesar salad or garlic bread. Optionally, garnish with parmesan cheese and herbs.
Variations for Meatball Pasta Bake
- Try different noodles: You can use any variation of noodles you'd like in this dish. You could even use zucchini noodles if that's up your alley!
- Use different meatballs: Try the Italian variety of meatballs, chicken meatballs, or give turkey meatballs a try.
- Add cream cheese: Adding cream cheese to a meatball casserole will make it extra creamy.
- Choose your favorite cheese: I used mozzarella for this recipe, but you can use any cheese you like. Try asiago cheese, creamy ricotta cheese, or any other family favorite.
- Add mushrooms: This could add even more delicious flavor!
Recipe Tips and Storage
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Want to freeze your meatball casserole for later? Cook the pasta and meatballs, then freeze for up to three months. Defrost the casserole and bake covered at a low temperature until warm.
This meatball casserole recipe can also be made in a slow cooker. You'll want to cook the pasta first and add some extra sauce instead of the water and milk.
Recipe FAQs
For this meatball casserole recipe, I used frozen meatballs and dumped them in the pan. Thawed meatballs require less cooking time and may burn while the pasta cooks.
Yes! You will need to cook the pasta before adding to the slow cooker. Use extra sauce in place of the water and milk.
For a meatball pasta bake, I like to use rotini. However, use whatever kind of pasta is your favorite! Penne pasta, ziti, or even elbow pasta would work well.
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Recipe
Meatball Casserole
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounces rotini pasta can use ziti or penne pasta
- 24 ounces spaghetti sauce
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups water
- 14 ounces frozen meatballs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
Optional ingredients
- parmesan cheese and herbs for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the over to 425℉.
- In a 9" x 13" baking pan, add the uncooked pasta, spaghetti sauce, milk, water, meatballs and seasonings. Stir to combine
- Cover the pan with foil and bake for 45 minutes, then remove the foil and check the pasta to see if it is done. The pasta should be firm and cooked through. If the pasta needs more time, replace the foil and bake for several more minutes.
- Remove the foil from the casserole and top with shredded mozzarella cheese, and bake for about 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let the casserole sit to firm up, about 10 minutes, then serve hot.
Notes
- Cover any leftover pasta in a sealed container for up to three days.
- Freeze the baked casserole for up to three months and let it thaw before reheating.
- Place the casserole in the microwave or in a low-temperature oven to reheat it.
- For meal prep, bake the casserole, let it cool, and then portion it into individual freezer containers.
Nutrition
First published: Aug 19, 2023, Last updated: Dec. 19, 2023 for better readability.
Thank you for stopping by the One Hot Oven blog. Please leave a comment to say hello or tell me what you are baking; I always love hearing from fellow bakers. Have any questions or want to chat about the recipe? Please visit my about page for information, and I’ll be happy to help!
About Jere'
From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending. Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing sweet and savory family-friendly recipes for your cooking and baking inspiration.
Mae
So tasty and quick to prepare too! Adding cream cheese made it better! I used penne for this but I'm definitely trying out other types of pasta next time!
Rose
I've added this meatball casserole to my weekly dinner rotations, it's so simple and quick to make and my kids enjoy it.
Jere Cassidy
Glad you liked it, my kids love it too. I showed them how to make it themselves when I'm gone, it's so easy.
Ruth
Awesome recipe! Tried it and it was really gooood. The fact that it was simple and so easy to make is the best thing about it IMO, really perfect for busy weeknights!
Riley
Quick prep, no-fuss, and the flavor actually exceeded my expectations. This meatball casserole is so tasty and hassle-free.
Brooklyn
I am all about easy and this recipe couldn't be easier. I loved that the pasta cooked in the oven and it really is one pan clean up. Even better, I got all the ingredients at Aldi and the whole dinner (fed my family of 6!) was less than $10!! Can't beat that!
Glenna
Defnitely adding this to my favorites! Super easy, just dump and bake. The family loved it, and weeknight dinners got a whole lot easier.
Carmina
This meatball casserole was so easy to throw together. Quick, easy, and delicious! It's exactly what I need for weeknight dinners.