Easy Dump And Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole

Nothing says comfort family dinner like casseroles. This delicious and saucy meatball pasta casserole comes together in only 10 minutes and bakes to al dente perfection in the oven. It is an easy to make one dish dinner that combines noodles, marinara, meatballs and mozzarella cheese. For speed and convenience we use frozen cooked meatballs and our favorite store bought tomato sauce. This meatball pasta bake recipe does not require any special equipment and is therefore also great for young cooks or to make during your next self-catered vacation. Just dump and bake this meatball casserole.

What Is A Meatball Pasta Bake?

A meatball pasta bake is an easy casserole dish that requires no hands on cooking time. This is the perfect meal for busy weeknights when you don’t have much time to prep dinner. It results in delicious pasta and juicy meatballs covered in cheese. The simple recipe is a good choice for a fussy eater. With simple ingredients and easy prep this recipe is a big hit for a family dinner.

Another name for a meatball pasta bake that we’ve seen around the internet is “dump and bake meatball casserole”. That describes the dish exactly!

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you enjoy turning frozen meatballs into delicious family dinners, the you’ll love our amazing Swedish Meatballs. They are smothered in a rich and creamy sauce. This mouthwatering comfort food is done in only 30 minutes.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook meatball pasta casserole in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below. You can print the recipe with or without photos.

EASY PREP: Firstly, preheat the oven to 425°F. Then add pasta to the bottom of the pan, marinara and 3 cups water to a 9×13-inch casserole dish and stir to combine. Add meatballs on top of pasta. There is no need to brown meatballs or heat the meatballs if they’re pre-cooked. Do not stir anymore.

Optional: sprinkle ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder and ¼ teaspoon of onion powder over the sauce if your pasta sauce is bland and needs a little bit of extra flavor.

BAKE: Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Then place on the middle rack of the oven and bake meatball casserole for 40 minutes or until the pasta is cooked and sauce has thickened. Afterwards remove from the oven and uncover.

NOTE: Do not use cooked pasta with this recipe.

ADD CHEESE AND FINISH: Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top of the meatballs. (Feel free to add in some parmesan cheese here as well.) Return to the oven for another 10-15 minutes to melt the cheese. Cover if you do not want the cheese to brown. Do not cover if you want a golden brown cheesy top. Finally, let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving the comforting meatball pasta bake.

What To Serve With Dump And Bake Meatball Casserole

An easy casserole deserves an easy side dish. These low effort sides taste delicious with this pasta and red sauce.

Salad: This easy comfort food pairs well with a healthy side salad. If you’re low on time, grab a bagged salad at the grocery store. If you have a little more time, make an easy Italian Salad or a Chopped Asparagus Salad.

Vegetable Sides: Use the Instant Pot or air fryer to make some easy vegetable side dishes. Try Instant Pot Broccoli or Air Fryer Broccoli. Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus is one of our favorite recipes. And don’t discount Cauliflower or Brussels Sprouts.

Crusty Bread: A dump and bake meatball casserole pairs perfectly with any kind of crusty bread. Buy a loaf of french bread and turn it into this delicious Garlic French Bread.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT TIME: If you love making your own meatballs then you’ll love our Air Fryer Meatballs recipe. These are the best homemade meatballs, they are easy to make and cook to juicy, tender perfection in the air fryer. Or try our oven baked Italian Meatballs, Chicken Meatballs or Turkey Meatballs.

Make Ahead

Due to the nature of this dish, it isn’t advised to assemble and save in the refrigerator before cooking. If you want to make this pasta bake ahead of time, cook it completely in a microwave safe dish then store in the fridge and reheat in the microwave when needed.

How To Store

Refrigerate: Let the casserole leftovers cool completely and then transfer to an airtight container or ziploc bag. Alternatively you can simply cover the baking dish with cling wrap. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: You can freeze leftover pasta casserole with frozen meatballs in a freezer safe container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Label your leftovers with the date!

Defrosting: Thaw pasta leftovers overnight in the refrigerator for a day or reheat from frozen.

How To Reheat

Reheat leftovers in the microwave using a microwave safe dish. Cover to prevent splatter all over the microwave. Cook time depends on how much you are making and the power of your microwave.

Common Questions