Description
Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole is an easy one-pan dinner made with frozen meatballs, marinara sauce, uncooked pasta, and gooey cheese. Perfect for busy weeknights, this hearty meatball pasta bake is a family favorite comfort food recipe you’ll keep coming back to.
Ingredients
2 cups uncooked penne pasta
1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
3 cups water
1 (1 lb) bag frozen meatballs (fully cooked)
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. In a large 9×13-inch baking dish, combine uncooked pasta, marinara sauce, water, and frozen meatballs. Stir until pasta is fully coated.
3. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
4. Remove foil, stir gently, then top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
5. Return to oven uncovered and bake for another 10–15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
6. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Letting the casserole rest helps the sauce thicken and makes serving easier.
Use any variety of fully cooked frozen meatballs—beef, turkey, chicken, or plant-based.
Short pasta shapes like penne, ziti, or rotini work best for even cooking.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 910mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 60mg