Cheesy Meatball Casserole Recipe

Cheesy Meatball Casserole Recipe

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A comforting and easy casserole featuring flavorful meatballs, your favorite pasta sauce, and plenty of melted cheese. Perfect for a weeknight dinner!

Ingredients:

  • For the Meatballs:
    • 1 pound ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
    • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
    • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
    • 1/4 cup milk
    • 1 egg, lightly beaten
    • 1 clove garlic, minced
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • For the Casserole:
    • 1 (24-ounce) jar pasta sauce (marinara, or your favorite)  
    • 1 (16-ounce) package pasta (penne, rotini, or your favorite), cooked al dente
    • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese  
    • Optional: 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese for topping.
    • Optional: fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish.

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Meatballs:
    • In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, milk, egg, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.
    • Mix gently with your hands until well combined.
    • Form the mixture into small meatballs (about 1-inch in diameter).
  2. Cook the Meatballs:
    • You have a few cooking options here:
      • Oven: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the meatballs on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until cooked through.  
      • Stovetop: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides and cooked through.
      • Sauce: you can also add the raw meatballs directly into the sauce, and let them cook in the sauce. This will add extra flavor to the sauce.
  3. Assemble the Casserole:
    • Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
    • In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta and pasta sauce. Mix well.
    • Add the cooked meatballs to the pasta mixture and gently stir to combine.
    • Pour the pasta and meatball mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish.
    • Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.
    • Optional: Sprinkle parmesan cheese over the mozzarella cheese.
  4. Bake:
    • Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the casserole is heated through.
  5. Serve:
    • Let the casserole cool slightly before serving.
    • Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.
    • Serve warm and enjoy!

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