Description
This Meatball Pasta Bake recipe is a comforting and satisfying dish that the whole family will love. Tender meatballs, al dente pasta, flavorful marinara sauce, and gooey cheese come together in this easy-to-make casserole.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 oz penne pasta
Meatballs:
- 1 lb frozen or homemade meatballs
Sauce:
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Cheese and Herbs:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the pasta: Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Prepare the dish: In a large oven-safe skillet or 9×13-inch baking dish, combine the cooked pasta, marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, olive oil, and half of the mozzarella cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the meatballs: Stir in the meatballs until evenly coated.
- Cheese topping: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.
Notes
- You can use store-bought or homemade meatballs for this recipe.
- For extra flavor, try using spicy Italian sausage or turkey meatballs.
- This dish can be prepared ahead and refrigerated before baking; adjust the bake time if chilled.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
