Meatball Casserole Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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With just one dish to wash and a handful of simple ingredients, you can treat your entire family to this hearty meatball casserole. It has tender meatballs nestled in a bed of rotini pasta, smothered in marinara sauce, and topped with gooey mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Casseroles are seriously the best. They’re so easy to make but are always a satisfying meal! If you love this meatball casserole, here are a few more recipes you should try: chicken parmesan casserole, baked chicken spaghetti, and Swiss chicken bake!

Meatball Casserole Recipe - The Recipe Critic (1)

Easy Meatball Casserole

Looking for the perfect dinner solution that’s not only delicious but also hassle-free? Look no further than this meatball casserole recipe! It seriously is as tasty as it is effortless. Just layer your meatballs, noodles, marinara, and a generous helping of cheese in a baking dish. Then all you have to do is let the oven work its magic!

I can’t even put into words how amazing this casserole is. It’s the perfect dinner for when you’re craving something hearty and savory with that golden, bubbly cheese on top we all love. The other great thing about this meatball casserole recipe is that you use frozen meatballs, so prep is a breeze! Trust me, your kids will be asking you to make this for dinner all. The. Time.

Don’t Worry!

This recipe is Picky Eater Approved!

Meatball Casserole Ingredients

It only takes a handful of simple ingredients to put meatball casserole together. This makes it great for feeding a crowd! See the recipe card below for exact measurements.

  • Rotini Pasta: A twisty pasta that’s fun to eat and captures the delicious sauce so well! Feel free to swap this out for any other type of pasta you like. Penne and rigatoni are great options.
  • Frozen Meatballs: Frozen meatballs make this casserole so easy to prepare!
  • Marinara Sauce: For some tangy, savory goodness. Make your own or use your favorite jarred kind!
  • Mozzarella Cheese: Mozzarella is super gooey and melty. The perfect topping for this casserole.
  • Parmesan Cheese: A dash of this cheese adds a salty, tasty kick to the dish.
  • Dried Italian Seasoning: A mix of herbs and spices that makes everything taste a little more delicious.

Cheesy Meatball Casserole Recipe

Get ready for meatball casserole to be a new favorite with your family! It’s so simple that you’ll find yourself making it again and again.

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Cook Your Pasta: Cook and drain the pasta according to package instructions.
  3. Add Sauce: Pour 1/2 cup marinara into a 13X9-inch casserole dish and then spread it evenly to coat the bottom of the dish.
  4. Add Pasta and Cheese: Add the pasta to the casserole dish then sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese over the pasta.
  5. Add Meatballs: Place the frozen meatballs on top of the cheese and pasta.
  6. Top With Sauce: Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the meatballs.
  7. Repeat: Top the sauce with the remaining mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, then sprinkle with the dried Italian seasonings.
  8. Bake and Enjoy: Bake for 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly!

Make it Ahead!

Prepare the casserole a day in advance, refrigerate, and bake when ready to serve for a convenient make-ahead dinner.

Meatball Casserole Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2)

Tips and Variations

Make this meatball casserole your own with these simple tips and tricks!

  • Fresh Marinara Sauce: While jarred marinara sauce is convenient, making your own from fresh tomatoes and herbs can take the flavor to a whole new level. Find my full recipe here!
  • Spaghetti and Meatball Casserole: Swap out the rotini for spaghetti noodles! It adds a classic twist to the dish.
  • Make it Low-Carb: For a keto meatball casserole, use zucchini noodles instead of rotini!
  • Add Fresh Herbs: Garnish your meatball casserole with fresh basil or parsley for some extra flavor and the perfect presentation!
Meatball Casserole Recipe - The Recipe Critic (3)

Storing Leftovers

Once it’s cooked, your meatball casserole will last in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days. To keep it fresh, store it in an airtight container. To reheat, cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Freeze Meatball Casserole for Later

Your unbaked casserole will last for a month or two covered in the freezer. When you’re ready to enjoy it, let it thaw in the fridge overnight and then bake as directed! It’s that easy! Meatball casserole is great for meal prepping and making dinnertime a cinch.

Meatball Casserole Recipe - The Recipe Critic (4)

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Meatball Casserole

By: Alyssa Rivers

With just one dish to wash and a handful of simple ingredients, you can treat your entire family to this hearty meatball casserole. It has tender meatballs nestled in a bed of rotini pasta, smothered in marinara sauce, and topped with gooey mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 people

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces rotini pasta, cooked and drained
  • 26 ounces frozen meatballs
  • 32 ounces marinara sauce, homemade or jarred
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasonings

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • Cook and drain the pasta according to package instructions.

  • Pour 1/2 cup marinara into a 13X9-inch casserole dish and spread it evenly to coat the bottom of the dish.

  • Add the pasta to the casserole dish then sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese over the pasta.

  • Place the frozen meatballs on top of the cheese and pasta.

  • Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the meatballs.

  • Top the sauce with the remaining mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, then sprinkle with the dried Italian seasonings.

  • Bake for 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 664kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 39gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 121mgSodium: 1089mgPotassium: 943mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 954IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 291mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American, Italian American

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

Read More About Me

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Meatball Casserole Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

How to make meatballs that aren t tough? ›

Add moisture.

Eggs and binders like breadcrumbs mixed with milk all help with keeping meatballs tender and moist, so don't skip any of these.

How to make frozen meatballs tastier? ›

The stale taste is because when food is frozen for too long, it can dry out. You want to add egg to the meat to moisten it. Make sure to blend the whole egg into the meat so that it can be thoroughly absorbed.

What is the secret to making tender meatballs? ›

Egg and breadcrumbs are common mix-ins to add moisture and tenderness. Another binder option that people swear by is a panade, which is fresh or dry breadcrumbs that have been soaked in milk. “The soaked breadcrumbs help keep the proteins in the meat from shrinking,” as food writer Tara Holland explained in the Kitchn.

Do meatballs get softer the longer you cook them? ›

Tenderizing the Meat:

As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.

Should I thaw frozen meatballs before baking? ›

TIP: Defrosting the meatballs before cooking will mean you can brown them well in a pan, if that's what your recipe needs. If the meatballs are cooked in a sauce, you can skip the defrosting step and simply cook the meatballs directly in the sauce from frozen. Cook for an extra 5 minutes or until cooked through.

Why are my frozen meatballs rubbery? ›

If the meatballs are packed together too tightly, they will cook up rubbery, chewy, and tough.

Is it better to cook meatballs before adding to sauce? ›

Adding raw meatballs to the sauce and gently simmering till cooked yields ultra-tender results, and infuses the sauce with meaty flavor—a slow cooker gives great results.

What makes meatballs soft and tender? ›

Bread soaked in some form of liquid puffs up when cooked, creating little air pockets that makes meatballs extra soft. It works far better than ordinary breadcrumbs which actually has the tendency to make meatballs tough little balls (panko breadcrumbs is ok though), and the Italians have been doing this for years.

Why do my meatballs come out tough? ›

More Reasons Your Meatballs are Hard

Sticky hands can result in an overworked farcemeat. Too much time spent forming the balls can also make them tough, and you're more likely to overwork them if you can't get them off your hands.

Why are my beef meatballs tough? ›

Not adding any moisture to the meat.

Some kind of moisture, like eggs or a binder made from bread crumbs and milk, is essential when making meatballs. Without it, the protein content forces the meatballs to shrink as they cook, and produces a final dish with a tough texture.

Why are my meatballs dry and tough? ›

Lean meats, like ground turkey or very lean ground beef, can result in drier meatballs. Consider using a mix of lean and fattier meats, like a blend of ground beef with some ground pork or veal, for juicier meatballs.

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