Description
A simple and hearty Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole featuring uncooked pasta, frozen meatballs, marinara sauce, and gooey mozzarella cheese. This easy one-pan meal is perfect for busy weeknights and requires minimal prep, delivering a comforting Italian-American classic in under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 1 (16 oz) package uncooked penne or ziti pasta
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 3 cups water
Meat and Cheese
- 1 (1 lb) bag frozen fully-cooked meatballs
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Garnish
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 425°F to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large 9×13-inch baking dish, mix the uncooked pasta, marinara sauce, water, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until evenly combined.
- Add Meatballs: Distribute the frozen meatballs on top of the pasta mixture, pressing them down slightly into the liquid.
- Bake Covered: Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes, allowing the pasta to cook and the flavors to meld.
- Uncover and Add Cheese: Carefully remove the foil, gently stir the pasta, then sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake Uncovered: Return the dish to the oven without the foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and pasta is tender.
- Rest and Garnish: Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- No need to thaw the meatballs—use them straight from the freezer.
- Any pasta sauce can be used as a substitute for the marinara, adapting to your flavor preference.
- For added nutrition and flavor, mix in frozen spinach or diced bell peppers before baking.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 860 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
