Description
Hearty dump and bake meatball casserole delivers comfort with minimal effort, bringing Italian-inspired flavors to dinner tables. Pasta, marinara, and tender meatballs unite in one pan, promising delicious simplicity you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound frozen meatballs
- 12 ounces (340 grams) uncooked pasta (like penne or rotini)
- 4 cups (950 milliliters) marinara sauce
Cheese:
- 1 cup (240 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cups (470 milliliters) water
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375°F and lightly coat a rectangular baking vessel with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Pour frozen meatballs directly into the prepared dish, creating an even layer across the bottom.
- Scatter uncooked pasta noodles over the meatballs, ensuring uniform distribution.
- Generously drench the meatballs and pasta with rich marinara sauce, creating a complete coating.
- Pour water around the edges of the dish to help pasta cook evenly and create moisture.
- Sprinkle Italian seasoning across the entire surface, distributing herbs and spices thoroughly.
- Gently mix all ingredients using a spatula to ensure complete sauce coverage.
- Seal the dish tightly with aluminum foil, preventing moisture from escaping during cooking.
- Slide the covered casserole into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes.
- Carefully remove foil and generously top the dish with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Return the uncovered casserole to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes, enabling flavors to meld and sauce to slightly thicken.
- Serve hot, directly from the baking dish, for a comforting and effortless meal.
Notes
- Swapping frozen meatballs for homemade or plant-based alternatives allows customization for different dietary preferences and taste.
- Adding extra vegetables like spinach, zucchini, or bell peppers directly into the casserole boosts nutritional value and adds delightful texture.
- For gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta and ensure marinara sauce is certified gluten-free to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Reduce sodium by choosing low-sodium marinara sauce and selecting part-skim mozzarella cheese for a lighter, healthier meal option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 61 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg