Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

Here is a quick dump and bake recipe that you can have ready in less than an hour! Don’t worry about having to boil pasta simple just dump everything into a 9×13 pan and throw into the oven. Meal prep several at a time and store in the freezer for up to 6 months and pull them out when you need a quick and simple dinner.

Rather you are a busy mom like I am, someone that is constantly on the go and need a quick meal to prep for the week, hosting friends or family over and want a simple recipe to make, or a beginner to cooking this is the recipe for you!

This is one of our all-time favorite recipes for my family. It is filled with your pasta of choice, creamy and flavorful tomato sauce with delicious meatballs. You can use frozen meatballs, or you can make my veggie packed meatballs that are juicy and savory.

Pasta is always a big hit in our house, it is a great way to get healthy carbohydrates into your kids’ system. Did you know that carbohydrates supply the body with glucose, which is fuel for the brain? The brain needs a constant supply of fuel, so I try to push wholesome carbohydrates like whole wheat flour, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, and quinoa daily for my kids!

Ingredients for Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

I am constantly trying to figure out how to serve my family a wide variety of dinners that are:

• Nutrient Dense
• Not Expensive
• Minimal time of prepping
• Everyone loves and eats!

This recipe does all of that. The ingredients are simple, I can easily sneak in vegetables, and my kids are always asking for seconds.

I like to shop at a wide variety of stores. My current favorite right now is Krogers. The produce section is so fresh and delicious I simply cannot pass it up!

Also, with being a stay-at-home mom, I really do not have time to do much research on ingredients. I was tired of going to the store, reading the nutrition label and seeing all the harmful ingredients that was in some of the sauces, canned items, and baking items. I wanted to make sure all my condiments, cereals, and baked goods were all clean and organic. That is when I discovered Thrive Market. Thrive Market is an online grocery store that delivers groceries right to your door in just a couple of days. If you are wanting 40% off your first order. Shop the link here! 

Ingredients:

• Jovial Pasta Noodles
• Marinara Sauce
• Water
• Meatballs (frozen or homemade)
• Shredded Mozzarella

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make this casserole more veggie packed

• First thing is first, make my meatballs that I have packed full with vegetables. If you have a food processor it is so simple to toss all the ingredients together in the food processor and make them into little balls.
• I also like to shred carrots, zucchini, or any other vegetables that my toddlers like into this casserole. I like to shred them so then they cook faster. Also, so my toddlers do not notice that they are eating more vegetables.

Simple Instructions to making Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

• In a 9×13 inch casserole pan dump in the uncooked pasta, marinara sauce, water, and meatballs.
• Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake in the oven at 425 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
• Remove the cover, stir the pasta, and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top.
• Place the dish back into the oven for about couple minutes or until the cheese is melted and he pasta is tender. This usually takes about 10 minutes for me!
• Serve and enjoy!

Secret to success on making Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

• The marinara sauce. Now I make my own marinara sauce and it is absolutely delicious. However, if you are purchasing marinara sauce from the store you must go with the Rao’s brand. The type of marinara sauce you get will make or break this recipe!
• Make sure your pasta is completely cooked through. When I have baked this for 35-40 minutes I always taste the pasta to see if it is dense yet. If it is I usually put it back in the oven and continue to check it until the pasta is nice and squishy.
• FRESH MOZZARELLA CHEESE! You guys, I know it is so easy to purchase shredded mozzarella cheese, but I am telling you. When you purchase fresh mozzarella cheese, and you shred it yourself you notice such a difference in your recipe.

What to serve with meatball casserole

I like to make this super simple. I don’t do anything extravagant. We simply have

• Frozen Peas
• Garlic Roasted Green Beans
• A Caesar salad

I am usually making this on a day that we are super busy, so I tend to keep the sides pretty basic. This way cooking and cleanup is super simple, and I can simply throw everything in the dishwasher!

Storing & reheating tips

Store the leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container like this one linked here! Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days! Reheat in the microwave.

Can I freeze meatball casserole?

Absolutely! I cannot cook anything without making a double or triple batch that I can store in the freezer. It makes my life so much easier when I prep a couple meals and store some in the freezer.

More recipes to try

• Immune Boosting One-Pot Creamy Sausage Pasta – Wholesome Family Roots
• Cozy Fall Chicken Dinner – Wholesome Family Roots

What type of quick recipe is your favorite?

Do you have a simple, quick, and delicious recipe you use weekly? Let me know down below in the comments some of your favorite recipe!

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