Dump And Bake Meatball Casserole

If you’re looking for an easy dump-and-bake recipe, this dump and bake meatball casserole is the perfect meal to make! It only requires a few simple ingredients and can be made ahead of time. Additionally, it’s convenient for hectic weeknights as it can be stored in the freezer.

Ingredients For dump and bake meatball casserole recipe?

You may already have the necessary ingredients for this simple meatball casserole in your kitchen, avoiding the need for a grocery run. Check out the list of ingredients below.

Pantry Ingredients: penne pasta and marinara sauce

Refrigerated/Frozen Ingredients: mozzarella cheese (low moisture not fresh mozzarella)

Produce Ingredients: fresh parsley (optional)

Meat Ingredients: Meatballs – Made with ground beef, Italian sausage, pork, chicken, or turkey can be served either hot or frozen.

How To Make Dump and bake meatball casserole?

This 5-ingredient recipe is perfect for those busy days when you don’t want to spend much time in the kitchen. All ingredients are readily available for swift and effortless meal preparation, Sort of like a meatball hotdish recipe.

Step 1: Combine Ingredients Blend uncooked pasta, marinara sauce, water, and thawed casserole meatballs in a 9×13 inch baking dish.

Step 2: Bake: Bake the dish, covered tightly with foil, in a 425°F oven for 35 minutes.

Step 3: Add Cheese: After removing the foil, stir the pasta and sprinkle cheese on top.

Bake the dish in the oven for an extra 5-10 minutes until the cheese has melted and the pasta has achieved desired tenderness.

My Best Tips

• Ensure to defrost frozen meatballs in the fridge before incorporating them into the casserole dish.
• Select a flavorful, premium marinara sauce. Since the casserole only has 5 ingredients, each one is crucial. A great sauce will result in a scrumptious meal. My personal favorite is Rao’s, but any comparable brand will do the trick.
• The cooking duration may differ depending on the pan material and the specific features of your oven. For instance, glass or ceramic bakeware takes longer to cook than metal ones. To determine if your casserole is done, try a bite of pasta. The pasta should be tender and the liquid should be largely absorbed.
• Avoid overbaking to prevent the pasta from becoming mushy.
• Give the casserole a burst of freshness by topping it with herbs like basil or parsley. Sprinkling grated Parmesan cheese is also a tasty option.

The step-by-step instructions Dump and bake meatball casserole pictures can be found in the recipe card below.

Questions and answers about Dump And Bake Meatball Casserole

Recipe Variations

Smaller cocktail-sized meatballs are preferred in the casserole for ease of consumption by kids, but regular-sized meatballs can be substituted if that’s what’s available.

Any of the following casseroles with meatballs will suffice turkey, Italian, beef, chicken, or pork. Choose your favorite!

Frozen meatballs are used for convenience, but fresh, fully-cooked meatballs are also a viable option for the dump and bake meatball casserole recipe.

If rotini is not available, substitute with short pasta shapes like penne or elbows.

Choose pasta with a similar cooking time (about 7-8 minutes) as rotini to avoid having to adjust the casserole’s baking time.

Cooking for a Smaller Family: Reduce the quantity of ingredients by half and bake the casserole in an 8-inch square baking pan. Monitor the pasta after 30 minutes, as it may cook faster in the smaller pan.

What Do We Serve With a Casserole with meatballs?

Serve this comforting casserole with meatballs with a side of garlic bread or focaccia bread (a family favorite). Other delicious accompaniments include :

Caesar salad

A simple green salad dressed with Italian Balsamic Vinaigrette

Garlic Roasted Broccoli

Ingredient Italian Sugar Snap Peas

Sauteed Zucchini

Have a look at our other meatball recipes, how about my cheesy spinach meatball & potato bake

Can You Freeze dump and bake meatball casserole?

Keep any leftover pasta casserole with meatballs in a freezer-safe container or bag for a maximum of 3 months. Mark your leftovers with the date for easy identification!

Can You Store an Easy Meatball casserole?

For optimal enjoyment, consume this Dump And Bake Meatball Casserole recipe which has meatball casserole fresh from the oven.

Leftovers can be preserved for a maximum of 3 to 4 days by placing them in a tightly sealed container in the fridge. Note that the pasta may become dry over time, so you may need to add more marinara sauce when reheating.

This meatball casserole is not suitable for freezing as pasta tends to become gummy and mushy upon thawing. However, some readers have reported successful freezing of leftovers.

Do We have to brown meatballs before baking them?

Cooking the meatballs this way results in a tender texture, even after cooking. Browning them in a pan or oven prior to adding to the sauce enhances their outer color, which some people prefer to be darker , for Dump And Bake Meatball Casserole recipe

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