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This Meatball Casserole recipe is an EASY dinner with just four ingredients! It’s a great way to use up leftover meatballs, plus it’s ready in about 30 minutes. If you want an easy weeknight dinner, this recipe is for you.

A spoonful of meatball casserole being pulled from casserole dish


Best EASY Meatball Casserole

If you are looking for a recipe with a short prep time that’s perfect for feeding a big family or taking to a friend, this cheesy meatball casserole is the dinner for you. I mean, four ingredients and 30 minutes – it’s my ideal dinner!

It’s like a cross between spaghetti and meatballs and a baked pasta dish but a whole lot easier to make. It’s what to make with leftover meatballs – you get all the cheesy, saucy, meaty goodness with hardly any work. When your day has you craving comfort food you should make this!

This easy Meatball Casserole recipe is perfect for any and all of those times. You can make this recipe from scratch or semi-homemade with just four simple ingredients. It feeds a lot of people, tastes like it’s from scratch, and the flavor is delicious!

Overhead shot of the four ingredients needed to make meatball casserole

Just 4 Ingredients

  1. Pasta – any shape you like will work, but I like penne or rotini. You can even use spaghetti to make a spaghetti and meatball casserole.
  2. Frozen meatballs – use store-bought or leftover frozen homemade meatballs (like my turkey meatballs). We love turkey or chicken meatballs best!
  3. Jarred marinara sauce: Or use my homemade crockpot tomato sauce!
  4. CHEESE! – Up to 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

How to Make Meatball Casserole

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. While the oven heats, boil the pasta for a few minutes less than what’s instructed on the box. You want it a little underdone because it will finish cooking in the oven. Drain then pour the noodles into a 9×13” baking dish.
  2. The meatballs are fully cooked and just need to be baked. Place the frozen meatballs on top.
  3. Dump the sauce over the meatballs and pasta.
  4. Sprinkle mozzarella over the top. Bake meatball casserole for about 20 minutes or until the meatballs are hot and the cheese is melted.
  5. Serve this casserole with homemade garlic bread, grated parmesan cheese and garnish with some fresh basil or fresh parsley.
Meatball casserole on a plate

Tip From Dorothy

Expert Tips

  • Storage: Store casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to a month.
  • You can assemble the casserole ahead of time, cover with plastic and aluminum foil, and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking.
  • Side Dishes: This would go great with green beans, broccoli, or a side salad.

FAQ

How to store leftover meatball casserole?

Leftover meatball casserole will keep in the refrigerator for up to two days.

Can you freeze it?

You can freeze leftovers for up to one month.

A spoonful of meatball casserole being pulled from casserole dish

Meatball Casserole

3.58 from 38 votes
Just 4 ingredients in this EASY Meatball Casserole recipe! It’s on the table in under 30 minutes and is the perfect weeknight meal!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Yield 4 -6 servings
Serving Size 1 /6 recipe

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound pasta your choice, I like penne or rotini
  • 1 pound frozen meatballs
  • 6 cups Crockpot Marinara sauce or your favorite jarred sauce
  • 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Cook pasta in boiling water just a few minutes less than called for on the package. Since you’ll be baking this you want the pasta a bit more al dente than if you were to just eat it straight from boiling. Drain well.
  • Pour pasta into a casserole dish (9”x13” pan size). Top with frozen meatballs and sauce, then sprinkle with cheese.
  • Bake casserole about 20 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through and cheese is melted.
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or freeze for up to one month.

Recipe Video

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1/6 recipe | Calories: 774kcal | Carbohydrates: 223g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 1585mg | Fiber: 88g | Sugar: 3g
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

What Can I Make with Leftover Meatballs?

If you want more easy ideas for repurposing meatballs, be sure to check out these leftover meatballs recipes, too!

Other Easy Casseroles

If you need an easy dinner, this Meatball Casserole recipe is for you! It’s like a cross between spaghetti and meatballs and a baked pasta dish but a whole lot easier to make.



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

3.58 from 38 votes (35 ratings without comment)

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7 Comments

  1. I used a casserole dish which I think made it take longer than 20 minutes and did not “finish” cooking the ziti. It may have been more al dente than when I put it in the dish. I think if you use a casserole dish, you should cover it with foil to finish the ziti, thoroughly heat the meatballs and make the cheese gooey down like in the photo.

    Otherwise, it easy and great!

  2. Well, this is my first visit to your blog! Your blog provided us valuable information .You have done a marvelous job