Dump & Bake Meatball Casserole
This Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole recipe is the ultimate low-effort, high-reward family dinner! All you need to do is open some packets and jars, stir it all together (no need to boil the pasta first!) and bake, adding cheese at the end of cooking to get nice and melty. With just 4 basic ingredients, this meatball and pasta bake is also made with pantry staples!
What Makes This Recipe So Good
- Not only is this meatball casserole dump & bake, but it uses rounded jars and packets for minimal measuring!
- This meatball casserole re-heats well, making it the perfect cook once, eat twice (or three times!) dinner depending on the size of your family.
- You can serve the casserole by itself as a complete meal, or you can add sides like garlic bread, a zucchini salad, grilled eggplant or an Italian-style salad to make it go even further!
How To Make It
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- In a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, stir together uncooked pasta, pasta sauce, water, and meatballs. Season with salt to taste; stir. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes.
- Uncover; stir. At this point you should check the pasta to make sure that it is al dente (firm but just about finished cooking). If it’s still too hard, cover the dish and return to the oven until pasta is al dente. Then move on to the next step.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella over the top and bake uncovered for 5-10 more minutes (or until cheese is melted and pasta is tender).
- Serve scattered with the basil and parmesan, if using.
Chef’s Tips
- Change up the pasta sauce for a different flavored bake. A classic marinara will always work well here, but any jar of pasta sauce can be used in this recipe for different results!
- Make sure you thaw your frozen meatballs before adding them to the casserole. You can do this by placing the bag in the refrigerator first thing in the morning, they should be ready by the time you’re ready to make dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, any short shape would work well such as penne or rigatoni. They would make great swaps!
Use your favorite brand of frozen vegetarian meatballs, and use a vegetarian alternative to parmesan.
More Cozy Dinner Ideas
- Ultimate Chicken Casserole with French Fried Onions
- Easy Ground Chicken Soup with Pasta
- Cowboy Cornbread Casserole with Beans
- Rice and Gravy with Steak
- Easy Creamy Ground Beef Alfredo
- Loaded Potato Meatloaf Casserole
Dump & Bake Meatball Casserole
Equipment
- 9 x 13-inch baking dish
Ingredients
- 16 oz rotini pasta (one box, uncooked)
- 3 cups water
- 24 oz pasta sauce (one jar)
- 14 oz frozen pre-cooked meatballs (one bag, thawed)
- 1 tsp salt
- freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- thinly sliced fresh basil (optional, for garnish)
- grated parmesan (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Uncover; stir. At this point you should check the pasta to make sure that it is al dente (firm but just about finished cooking). If it’s still too hard, cover the dish and return to the oven until pasta is al dente. Then move on to the next step.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella over the top and bake uncovered for 5-10 more minutes (or until cheese is melted and pasta is tender).
- Serve scattered with the basil and parmesan, if using.
Notes
Recipe costs provided are approximate. Actual cost per recipe & serving will vary by location, store, brand, etc. Approximate cost shown does not include costs for any optional ingredients.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes. Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used. To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
