Description
This Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole is a simple and satisfying one-pan meal that you can get on the table with minimal effort. With pasta, marinara sauce, frozen meatballs, and cheese, it’s a crowd-pleaser that requires no pre-cooking, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 1 (16 oz) package uncooked pasta (penne or ziti)
Sauce:
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
Additional:
- 3 cups water
- 1 (14 oz) bag frozen fully cooked meatballs
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: to 425°F (220°C).
- Combine ingredients: In a 9×13-inch baking dish, mix pasta, marinara sauce, water, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Add meatballs: Arrange frozen meatballs on top.
- Bake: Covered with foil for 35 minutes.
- Top with cheese: Uncover, add mozzarella and Parmesan, and bake for 10–15 minutes more.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with parsley before serving.
Notes
- No need to thaw the meatballs before baking.
- You can use whole wheat or gluten-free pasta, adjusting cooking time as needed.
- Feel free to add extra veggies like spinach or bell peppers for added nutrition.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 generous scoop
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
