Meatball Dump and Bake Casserole

spoon scooping up a cheesy meatball pasta out of a casserole dish

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Meatball Dump and Bake Casserole is an easy weeknight dinner made with frozen meatballs, marinara sauce, pasta, two varieties of cheese and more. A simple comfort food casserole the whole family can enjoy.

Prep Time10

Cook Time45

Total Time55

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 816kcal

Author: Wendy

Equipment

9x13 baking dish

Ingredients

16 ounces otini pasta
24 ounces marinara sauce marinara sauce
14 ounces diced tomatoes
1 cup water or beef broth
28 ounces frozen fully cooked meatballs
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
Chopped fresh parsley for garnish, optional

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a 9x13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
In the prepared baking dish, combine the rotini pasta, marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, water or beef broth, frozen meatballs, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix everything until the pasta and meatballs are evenly coated with the sauce.
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes. Check to see if the pasta is tender and the meatballs are heated through. Gently stir the pasta and meatballs. Replace the foil and continue baking for 10 minutes if needed.
Once the pasta is cooked, remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese over the top.
Return the uncovered dish to the oven and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Remove from the oven and let it sit for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Covering the dish tightly with aluminum foil is a must as it is going to help lock in the moisture which will cook your pasta. If you bake uncovered the pasta will not become al dente and cook properly.

Instead of water, you can use chicken stock, low-sodium beef broth, or chicken broth to elevate the flavor of this comfort food casserole even more. The liquid is going to help cook up the dry pasta and create a tasty sauce with the marinara and diced tomatoes.

You can add in some heavy cream or whipping cream as well as the water or broth. This is going to create a creamier sauce that will also richen the meatball mix and pasta. Just make sure to pour in when you add the water, drizzling over the whole casserole.

Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.

Nutrition