Meatball Casserole Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2024)

Jump to Recipe

This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.

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)

Love Meatballs? Try These Other Recipes!

Dinner

Ricotta Meatballs

1 hr 10 mins

Soup

Delicious Meatball Soup

30 mins

Dinner

Classic Homemade Meatballs

35 mins

Dinner

The Best Meatball Sub

15 mins

Pin this now to find it later

Pin It

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

More Ideas

Dinner

Crockpot Salsa Chicken

6 hrs 10 mins

Dinner

Crack Chicken Pasta

30 mins

Breakfast

Cinnamon French Toast Bake

35 mins

Meatball Casserole Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

What is in casserole dish? ›

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

What is the best binder for meatballs? ›

An egg is usually a good start, as that can help with the tenderness and texture, but the king of meatball binders is breadcrumbs soaked in milk (also known as a panade). Soaking the breadcrumbs first makes them pliable and soggy, which allows them to easily and evenly mix into the ground meat.

What are 5 components of a casserole? ›

Let's talk anatomy: A standard dinner casserole usually includes a protein, a starch, a vegetable, a sauce (or other binding ingredient), and cheese. But making a casserole is not an exact science, and you can definitely break away from this formula. Check out some fun side-dish casseroles and desserts below!

What is the oldest known casserole? ›

Macaroni and cheese is the oldest written casserole recipe found in 1250.

Should you cover casserole when baking? ›

The primary reason for covering a casserole as it bakes is to trap moisture inside the dish. This will not only keep the casserole itself moist, but it will also help get the casserole up to cooking temperature.

What can I use to bind meatballs instead of breadcrumbs? ›

Rolled Oats

Oats are the perfect substitutes for breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf. While they aren't ideal for a crispy coating, they add the right amount of texture to bind meat, eggs and flavorings together into a delicious Italian-inspired feast.

Why do my meatballs fall apart when I cook them? ›

ANSWER: Usually when meatballs fall apart, it's the binder that is the problem. Most meatball recipes call for using bread crumbs and eggs. But too much bread crumbs make them too loose, and not enough bread crumbs won't help them hold together either.

What is the binding ingredient in meatballs? ›

Eggs: Eggs keep the meatballs from drying out and they act as a binding agent, which means they help hold the ingredients together.

Do you use egg to bind meatballs? ›

You only need a small amount of egg – it's there only to help the cooked meatball retain its shape, and shouldn't detract from the meat's flavour or texture. Filler ingredients like breadcrumbs or flour are important too because they stop the meatballs becoming dry.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Mr. See Jast

Last Updated:

Views: 6045

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Mr. See Jast

Birthday: 1999-07-30

Address: 8409 Megan Mountain, New Mathew, MT 44997-8193

Phone: +5023589614038

Job: Chief Executive

Hobby: Leather crafting, Flag Football, Candle making, Flying, Poi, Gunsmithing, Swimming

Introduction: My name is Mr. See Jast, I am a open, jolly, gorgeous, courageous, inexpensive, friendly, homely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.