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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.
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!
Just 4 Ingredients
- 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.
- Frozen meatballs – use store-bought or leftover frozen homemade meatballs (like my turkey meatballs). We love turkey or chicken meatballs best!
- Jarred marinara sauce: Or use my homemade crockpot tomato sauce!
- CHEESE! – Up to 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
How to Make Meatball Casserole
- 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.
- The meatballs are fully cooked and just need to be baked. Place the frozen meatballs on top.
- Dump the sauce over the meatballs and pasta.
- Sprinkle mozzarella over the top. Bake meatball casserole for about 20 minutes or until the meatballs are hot and the cheese is melted.
- Serve this casserole with homemade garlic bread, grated parmesan cheese and garnish with some fresh basil or fresh parsley.
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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
Leftover meatball casserole will keep in the refrigerator for up to two days.
You can freeze leftovers for up to one month.
Meatball Casserole Recipe
Recipe Video
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
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 Nutrition
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.
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!
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