Longbourn Farm

Simple Homemade Recipes & Farm Tips

  • About
    • Press
    • Contact
  • Cookbook
  • Meal Plans
  • Work with Me
  • Resources
  • Blog
    • Recipes
      • 30 Minutes or Less
      • Main Dish
      • Dessert
      • Breakfast
      • Bread
      • Appetizer
      • Side Dish
      • Soup
      • Salad
      • Drinks
    • Gardening
    • Chickens
    • Farm
      • Beekeeping
      • Livestock
      • Land
      • Horse
Home » Recipes & Tips » Meatball Casserole

Meatball Casserole

04/06/23 | Main Dish, Recipes & Tips

Jump to Recipe - Pin Recipe
Are you looking for a comforting and satisfying mid-week meal? Then you just have to try my meatball casserole! This hearty and flavorful dish is a classic for good reason - you can't go wrong with tender meatballs, rich tomato sauce, and melted cheese. My meatball casserole is so simple to make, yet always a hit when served to family or friends!Are you looking for a comforting and satisfying mid-week meal? Then you just have to try my meatball casserole! This hearty and flavorful dish is a classic for good reason - you can't go wrong with tender meatballs, rich tomato sauce, and melted cheese. My meatball casserole is so simple to make, yet always a hit when served to family or friends!Are you looking for a comforting and satisfying mid-week meal? Then you just have to try my meatball casserole! This hearty and flavorful dish is a classic for good reason - you can't go wrong with tender meatballs, rich tomato sauce, and melted cheese. My meatball casserole is so simple to make, yet always a hit when served to family or friends!Are you looking for a comforting and satisfying mid-week meal? Then you just have to try my meatball casserole! This hearty and flavorful dish is a classic for good reason - you can't go wrong with tender meatballs, rich tomato sauce, and melted cheese. My meatball casserole is so simple to make, yet always a hit when served to family or friends!

Are you looking for a comforting and satisfying mid-week meal? Then you just have to try my meatball casserole! This hearty and flavorful dish is a classic for good reason – you can’t go wrong with tender meatballs, rich tomato sauce, and melted cheese. My meatball casserole is so simple to make, yet always a hit when served to family or friends!

Whether you’re feeding a crowd or needing a delicious meal for your family – you don’t want to spend ages slaving away in the kitchen!

This dump and bake meatball casserole takes the hassle out of dinner and is a guaranteed hit with everyone. My meatball casserole only requires 10 minutes of prep time, and the rest of the work is done in the oven!

You can use whatever meatballs you have to hand – frozen, chicken, or even homemade Italian meatballs; the choice is yours. All I know is that when you take your first bite of my meatball casserole recipe, you’ll ask for seconds! Seriously, the classic combination of yummy pasta sauce, mozzarella, meatballs, and pasta is unbeatable.

Rich, comforting, and oh-so-tasty – what more could you ask for?

Why You’ll Love Meatball Casserole

  • Uses staple ingredients. No fancy ingredients are needed for this recipe, just some simple pantry basics you likely have to hand.
  • Absolutely delicious! This family-friendly dish is hearty and comforting and a complete meal in itself. However, this recipe also pairs as a great meatball sub casserole – serve it in a sub roll, and you have a quick and easy meatball sub!
  • Fuss-free. Combining simple ingredients and using just one pan makes this dump and bake meatball casserole a breeze!

Ingredients For Meatball Casserole Recipe

  • Pasta sauce
  • Water
  • Half and half
  • Pasta 
  • Meatballs 
  • Mozzarella
  • Parsley 

For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.

Instructions For Meatball Casserole

  1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
  2. Combine pasta sauce, water, half and half, and the pasta in a 9×13 (or similar) pan.
  3. Press the meatballs into the pasta so they are submerged and evenly spaced throughout the pasta.
  4. Top with the mozarella cheese.
  5. Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
  6. Uncover and bake for 10-15 more minutes.
  7. Sprinkle with fresh parsley.

What to Serve With Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

You don’t need to worry about side dishes when you serve this dinner – it’s a complete meal in one pan! 

However, if you want to add a few extras, then I highly recommend a fresh green salad and Italian cheese garlic bread – which will come in handy for mopping up the delicious sauce! Veggies are also always a good idea. My Instant Pot green beans, frozen carrots, or grilled asparagus will add a touch of freshness to your meal.

For something a little different, a butter beans with herbs side dish will also work great! And, of course, you can always serve your meatball casserole in a sub – the ultimate comfort food.

Is meatball casserole good for leftovers?

Yes, it makes a great lunch the day after! Just make sure to store your leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. If you’re using frozen meatballs, be sure to check the instructions for storing and reheating.

Can you freeze meatball casserole?

Once cooked, allow your meatball sub casserole to cool and then transfer it to a freezer-safe container. It will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and then reheat in the oven or microwave until piping hot throughout. Just remember that the pasta may be a bit softer than when freshly cooked!

What can I add to a meatball casserole?

This meatball casserole is so good as it is, but it’s also a great base for adding extra ingredients. Try throwing in some mushrooms, bell peppers, or spinach for an extra dose of veggies. You can also add some spice with red pepper flakes or extra earthiness with some Italian herbs.

As for the cheese – mozzarella, meatballs, and pasta will always be a match made in heaven. But you could try adding parmesan or even a mix of both! You can also use any type of short pasta shape, as long as it has similar cook times.

What type of pasta sauce is best for meatball casserole?

You can use your favorite pasta sauce in this meatball casserole recipe – whether it’s store-bought or homemade. Store-bought is super convenient and perfect for busy weeknights. However, my homemade Instant Pot marinara sauce can add an extra depth of flavor to your meal but it isn’t a requirement.

Whichever sauce you choose, this meaty, cheesy casserole will surely be a hit with the whole family!

three bowls of meatball casserole and a fork holding a meatball garnished with fresh herbs
Print Pin
No ratings yet
Share on Facebook

Meatball Casserole

Are you looking for a comforting and satisfying mid-week meal? Then you just have to try my meatball casserole! This hearty and flavorful dish is a classic for good reason – you can't go wrong with tender meatballs, rich tomato sauce, and melted cheese. My meatball casserole is so simple to make, yet always a hit when served to family or friends!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword dump and bake meatball casserole, meatball casserole, meatball casserole recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes minutes
Total Time 55 minutes minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 377kcal
Author Alli
Get ad-free recipes in PrepearLearn more about Prepear here!

Equipment

  • Redmond Real Salt
  • Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • Liquid Measuring Cups
  • 9×13 Baking Dish
  • Wooden Kitchen Utensils

Ingredients

  • 24 ounces pasta sauce
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 cup pasta short, any kind
  • 24 meatballs cooked
  • 2 cups mozarella
  • 1 tablespoon parsley fresh, minced

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
  • Combine pasta sauce, water, half and half, and the pasta in a 9×13 (or similar) pan.
  • Press the meatballs into the pasta so they are submerged and evenly spaced throughout the pasta.
  • Top with the mozarella cheese.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
  • Uncover and bake for 10-15 more minutes.
  • Sprinkle with fresh parsley.
Follow me on YouTube!Watch more videos and subscribe!

Nutrition

Calories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 84mg | Sodium: 832mg | Potassium: 605mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 946IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 261mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @longbournfarm or tag #longbournfarm!

Comments | Be the first!

« How Long to Defrost Steak in the Microwave
No Bake Oreo Cheesecake Bites »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Hi, Friend!


Alli Kelley is an Agriculture focused entrepreneur. She runs a successful food blog, a consulting and coaching business, and all the social media connected with an online presence.

She also enjoys home improvement projects, experimenting in the garden, and collecting colorful eggs from her chickens.
Read More…

Agriculture

Side view of a full DIY chicken waterer.

DIY Chicken Waterer Tutorial

posted in Animal and Land, Chickens, Farm & Family, Livestock

(sponsored)Are you wasting $2500 a year on food? Learn how to reduce food waste in your home and get the most out of your dollar and reduce your environmental impact! @beeffordinner #BeefItsWhatsForDinner #NicelyDone #beeffarmersandranchers

How to Reduce Food Waste

posted in Animal and Land, Livestock, Main Dish, Recipes & Tips

pasture full of cows

Where Does Beef Come From?

posted in Animal and Land, Livestock

Meal Plans + Ad-Free Recipes

less stress save time prepare ad
FTC Disclosure of Material Connection: The way I provide you with free content is through affiliate links and some of the links in the post above may be affiliate links, they will be marked in the post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to YOU. Read terms here.

Copyright © 2023 · Longbourn Farm • Tasteful Theme by Restored 316

Longbourn Farm
  • Home
  • Cookbook
  • Meal Plans
  • Work With Me
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Recipes
  • Gardening
  • Chickens
  • Farm