Meatball Casserole

If you are looking for a hearty, comforting, and easy weeknight dinner, look no further than this meatball casserole. With only a few minutes of prep time, this tomato-rich pasta dish does most of the work baking in the oven so you can focus on other things. You don't even have to boil the pasta.

If you don’t eat the whole casserole in one sitting, it makes for great leftovers the next day. Either bake in the oven, covered, until warm, or pop it into the microwave for a minute or two.

Learn how to make this easy meatball casserole. Your family is going to give it a five-star rating.

Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole: A New Family Favorite

This meatball casserole really is as easy as combining the ingredients in a dish and baking until the pasta is tender. That's right, you don't even have to boil the pasta. Then, for the finishing touch, you add cheese and bake until melted. You can add a step by crisping up the topping under a broiler, but that's totally optional.

Plus, you'll be using ingredients that are easy to keep on hand: frozen meatballs, jarred marinara, and pasta. With the addition of some cheese, milk, and fresh basil, this dinner is ready to bake. It's all so easy, kids might even be able to make it for you while you relax on the couch. (Now wouldn't that be the dream?)

Ingredients for Meatball Casserole

Add these to the grocery list so you can make the casserole for dinner this week:

• Meatballs: We suggest using frozen, fully-cooked cocktail meatballs. They bake through the best and are easier to eat, especially with kids at the table. But full-size meatballs are OK, too.
• Pasta: Fusilli is our suggested go-to. You can use others if you have some on hand you want to use up. More on other options below.
• Marinara sauce: Use a quality sauce because that's the prominent flavor in this casserole. We're fans of Rao's, but you can use your favorite.
• Chicken broth: This adds liquid to the sauce, which the pasta will absorb while cooking.
• Milk: Adds richness and creaminess, but the final dish isn't overly cream.
• Fresh basil: Helps the casserole taste a bit brighter. You can use dried basil if you want, but only use half the amount as dried herbs are more concentrated.
• Salt and pepper: For seasoning.
• Mozzarella cheese and shredded Parmesan cheese: For the one-two punch of perfect cheesiness in an Italian-inspired dish.
  

How To Make Meatball Casserole

This casserole really is as easy as 1-2-3. Here is a brief outline of the steps. The full recipe with step-by-step photos is below:

• Step 1. Combine the meatballs, pasta, marinara, broth, milk, some fresh basil, and salt and pepper in a baking dish coated with cooking spray.
• Step 2. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes. Check the pasta for doneness, and bake a bit longer if not cooked to al dente.
• Step 3. If it is ready, add cheese to the top of the pasta with more fresh basil. Put the casserole back in the oven until the cheese is melted. Broil the cheese for a crispy topping if desired.

Variations

Another great thing about this casserole is that you can change up the ingredients and still have a fantastic dinner. Here are a few ideas:

• Meatballs: You can use any size of meatballs, packaged or homemade, but we like cocktail-size (mini) meatballs because of the noodle-to-meatball ratio. Just make sure they're thawed, not frozen. Frozen meatballs won't cook through in time.
• Pasta: Swap out the shape of noodles; penne, rigatoni, orecchiette, and farfalle are all great choices.
• Cheese: Use Italian blend or Cheddar cheese, depending on your personal taste or what you have in your kitchen.

How To Store Leftovers

Meatball pasta will make great leftovers for a few days. The pasta might turn a bit softer while sitting in the sauce, so that's why it's important you don't overcook the pasta to begin with.

Move individual servings of the casserole to airtight containers, or cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second bursts, or bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes until warmed through.

If the pasta dried out while sitting in the fridge, spoon some more marinara sauce over top during reheating, and it'll help add back the moisture of the original dish.

Can You Freeze Leftovers?

You can, but we don't recommend it. Cooked pasta usually turns too mushy and soft after thawing.

How To Make Ahead Meatball Casserole

Get ahead of dinner by mixing all the ingredients in the baking dish (except the cheeses). Then, cover it with aluminum foil for several hours up to overnight. The pasta will begin to absorb some of the liquid, so the total cooking time will be less. Pull the dish out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you plan to bake it. Follow directions to finish baking.

You can also freeze meatball casserole at this stage (unbaked). Thaw it when you plan to bake it by moving it to the fridge overnight. Then follow the remainder of the steps to bake.