Easy Meatball Casserole Recipe

Looking for a delicious and comforting meal to add to your recipe collection? Meatball casserole recipe might be the answer. A mouthwatering combination of savory meatballs, tomatoes, and melted cheese, this dish is sure to please the pickiest eaters.

From preparing the meatballs to layering them with pasta, sauce, and cheese, I’ll take you through the step-by-step process for creating this mouthwatering meal. 

Here you’ll find classic Italian dishes and creative takes on this family favorite. Get ready to impress your loved ones with a satisfying and easy-to-make meal that will have everyone coming back for seconds. 

So, roll up your sleeves, preheat your oven, and let’s dive into the world of meatball casserole recipes!

What is a Casserole Dish?

The word “casserole” comes from the French word for “saucepan,” but it now refers to a thick, deep dish that can be baked. For this reason, casserole dishes are the best type of bakeware for making medley dishes like casseroles: they evenly distribute heat across the entire surface. The top of the casserole will cook a bit more than the rest of the casserole because most casserole pans do not come with lids.

Ingredients you will need to make Meatball casserole recipes 

• Unsalted Butter – 1 tbsp
• 1 cup Red Onion — Chopped
• 3-4 cloves of garlic – chopped
• 1lb of Ground Beef
• ¼ cup of Breadcrumbs
•  ¼ cup of parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup of Parsley 
•  1 large Egg
• 1 tsp of garlic powder, 
• 1 tsp of onion powder
• black pepper ( as per test)
• 1 tsp of Dried Basil 
• Salt (as per test) 
• 1 cup of Marinara Sauce
• ½ cup of Mozzarella cheese — shredded
• ½ tsp of Parsley — chopped 

How To Make Cheesy Meatball Casserole?

Get The Oven Ready

• Turn the oven on to 400°F and heat it. Butter a baking dish and place the oven rack in the middle. Then, put it away.

Add pasta and water

Spray a baking dish or pan with cooking spray before adding the raw pasta, water, and Marinara sauce. Combine these ingredients well.

Get The Meatballs Ready

• Over medium heat, melt the butter. For about five minutes, cook the onions and garlic.
• Combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, Parsley, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, salt, and pepper in a large salad bowl. Stir in the sautéed onions and garlic and toss well.
• Use a small cookie scoop to ensure that all the meatballs are the same size. Cook the meatballs in a casserole dish.

Cover And Bake

• Bake the casserole with foil over it. 
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or it will be done.
• Stir the mixture around halfway through the cooking time to ensure the pasta and meatballs bake evenly.
• You will need to drain the grease once the meatball dish has finished cooking.

Top The Meatballs And Bake Again

• Top the Marinara Sauce and shredded cheese on the meatball casserole.
• Return the meatball casserole to the oven. Once Afer melts the cheese, continue baking for another 5 minutes.

Expert Tips For Recipe For Meatball Casserole

Avoid over mixing 

Keep the meatball mix the same. Mixing everything is enough. Meatballs may become thin or dry if you work them too much. Using the palm of your hand, roll about 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture into balls. To ensure that they cook evenly, they should all be the same size.

Keep It Fridge

For 24 hours before baking, this dish can be made ahead and kept in the fridge. When you’re ready to bake it, wrap it tightly in foil or plastic wrap.

Use block cheese

When it comes to cheese, I always suggest shredding a block yourself. Alternatively, prepackaged cheese will do in a pinch, provided the strings of cheese don’t stick together in the bag. 

This doesn’t let the cheese melt well. Shredded just now is always best! You can even bake this meatball dish with fresh mozzarella balls on top. It’s deliciously cheesy!

Make sure to cook pasta sparingly.

Short pasta shapes like rotini, penne, or ziti are best. Try not to overcook the pasta at first, as it will continue to cook as the dish bakes. Cook it just a little, or a minute or two less than what the package says is needed.

Variation of Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole Recipes 

• You can use 1 lb (450g) ground beef and 1 lb (450g) hot pork sausage if you prefer to use more than just beef. It is also possible to use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.
• Add cooked broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, etc., before baking the second time. You can “hide” vegetables with cheese if you have picky eaters.
• No mozzarella on hand? Use any cheese you have on hand, such as Monterey Jack, cheddar, etc. Make your own chopped cheese instead of buying it from the store. The cheese doesn’t melt as well.
• You can use more than one sauce. Any tomato-based pasta sauce from a jar would work.
• You can add Alfredo sauce to the dish before baking if you want it to taste a little creamier.
• Do you want to eat something other than rotini? If you prefer, you can use other short pasta forms, such as elbows or penne. You need to choose a pasta that takes around 7-8 minutes to cook (like rotini). You will have to adjust the baking time if you do not.

Meatball Casserole Serving Suggestions

Serve it with your favorite green salad dressed in Italian sauce. Alternatively, you can eat it with fresh or frozen broccoli, green beans, peas, or garlic bread.

May I make This Keto Meatball Casserole?

Yes, you can make this keto meatball casserole. However, you cannot use pasta in a keto meatball casserole. 

What you will need?

• Ground Turkey
• Italian Sausage
• Mozzarella Cheese 
• Parmesan Cheese 
• Zucchini 
• Egg
• Onion
• Garlic
• Basil
• Salt

How To Make It?

• To make it, I just put everything in a bowl and stir it by hand. My low-carb meatballs are made up of different layers of materials, as shown in the picture above. For a bowl of raw meat, it looks good.
• Add the meatballs to the scoop. At the end, you should have 24 meatballs. Bake them in a baking dish with cooking spray until they are almost done. It is my goal to cook meat between 150 and 155 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Then top with more sauce and mozzarella cheese, and bake for another 15 minutes. To achieve the best golden brown cheese on top, broil the low-carb meatball dish for two to three minutes.

How to store Cheesy Meatball Casserole?

Storage

In a large freezer bag or container that doesn’t let air into it, pasta and meatballs will stay fresh for up to five days.

Freezing

You can also freeze this dish. Frozen pasta and cheese always have a different taste than freshly cooked pasta and cheese.

Instruction:

• Warm the oven up to 400°F. Place the oven rack in the middle and butter a baking dish. Put away.
• Put olive oil in a medium-sized pan and set it over medium-low heat. For about 5 minutes, add the onions and cook them.
• In the meantime, in a big salad bowl, mix together the ground beef, keto breadcrumbs, parmesan, parsley, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. After that, add the onions that have been cooking and mix everything together well.
• Make sure that all of the meatballs are the same size by using a small cookie scoop. Put the meatballs in the casserole dish that has been made.
• They should be baked for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they are done. Once the meatball dish is done, take it out of the oven and drain the grease.
• Spread the tomato sauce and cheese shreds on top.

FAQ

How Long Do I Bake A Meatball Casserole?

Approximately 40 to 45 minutes will be needed to bake the meatball dish at 400 degrees.

Can I Make This Meatball Casserole In The Slow Cooker?

Sure! You can follow the same steps in your crockpot. You will need to cook it on low for about an hour. Make sure the meatballs and pasta are al dente every so often.

When Do I Add Cheese To A Meatball Casserole Recipe?

Cheese should be added in the last 5 to 10 minutes of baking to prevent it from burning.

Final Words 

Unleash a symphony of flavors with these delectable meatball casserole recipes. Classic Italian dishes and creative twists on traditional favorites will tantalize your taste buds and satisfy your cravings. 

You can make these meatball casseroles for any occasion, whether you are catered to a crowd or simply craving comfort food. Take your cooking to the next level and prepare a mouthwatering meal that will leave you wanting more. Indulge in the magic of meatballs and casseroles with these irresistible recipes today!