This meatball casserole is simple to make with homemade meatballs, marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Serve low carb on it’s own, with pasta noodles or in a sub!
Other classic casserole recipes that deliver on taste include this ground beef casserole, easy hamburger casserole and million dollar spaghetti casserole!
Cheesy Meatball Casserole
Mouthwatering and comforting this meatball casserole is a family favorite with my easy homemade meatball recipe, savory herbs and a tangy marinara sauce all baked together to perfection!
With a layer of golden cheese on top, this cheesy meatball casserole is a family-style one-pan recipe that is hearty, wholesome, and disappears as quickly as it comes together. Enjoy on their own, add meatballs to a bowl of spaghetti or tuck them inside a meatball sub!
Ingredients Needed for Meatball Casserole
- Marinara sauce: I have a simple marinara sauce I make from scratch but feel free to take a shortcut and use a store-bought sauce if preferred.
- Ground beef: 80% lean ground beef will still leave you with enough flavor and fat for juicy and flavorful meatballs. You could also substitute half of the ground beef with ground pork for juicier meatballs.
- Egg: Helps to bind all of the ingredients together so that your meatballs don’t fall apart.
- Breadcrumbs: When you add breadcrumbs to a meat mixture it helps to absorb any excess moisture. This will also help to bind your meatballs together, working with the egg to keep them nice and whole.
- Parmesan cheese: A strong sharp cheesy flavor inside the meatball adds to the yummy taste and lends to a little extra salty seasoning.
- Seasoning: Chopped onion, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and optional chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley.
- Mozzarella: If you can help it, shred your own from a block for a meltier, gooey finish and fresher taste.
Substitutions and Variations
- Swap fresh garlic and onions for 1/2 teaspoon of each garlic powder and onion powder.
- If you don’t have fresh parsley, you can also use dried parsley. Italian seasoning is another delicious option!
- Some people aren’t a fan of parsley in which case you can omit it or swap it with other fresh herbs.
- For the meat ratio, you can keep them all beef or use 1/2 pound each of ground beef and ground pork. I find it helps to add moisture and flavor.
- Leaner meatballs. Use 1/2 ground beef and 1/2 ground turkey. Or try turkey meatballs or use chicken meatballs for chicken Parmesan meatballs!
- No marinara sauce? Your favorite tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce works in this meatballs casserole!
How to Make a Meatball Casserole
- Make the meatballs. Combine the meat, egg, breadcrumbs, cheese, and seasonings into a mixing bowl. Make sure all ingredients are incorporated fully but don’t overmix.
- Form the meatballs. Use a large cookie scoop or regular spoon to scoop the meat, transfer it to your own hands and form the balls by rotating it between the palms of your hands in a circular motion. Each meatball should be about 2 inches.
- Place in baking dish. Place meatballs in the prepared baking dish with marinara sauce and repeat with the remaining meatball mixture.
- Bake the meatball casserole. Once you’ve added all your meatballs to the dish, pour the marinara sauce over top and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake covered with aluminum foil for 20 minutes then remove the foil and continue baking for 5 minutes until the cheese is bubbly. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Even baking. Arrange meatballs in a single layer so that they are not overlapping.
- Similar sizes. If you like smaller meatballs by all means use a small cookie scoop. The most important thing is making them even sizes so they cook evenly.
- Complete your meal. While you’re waiting for the meatballs to bake, check out my post on how to cook pasta so you can have everything ready to go at the same time. You’ll have homemade spaghetti and meatballs ready in 30 minutes!
- Add pasta to the dish. Instead of serving pasta on the side, turn this into a ziti with meatballs casserole!
Ways to Serve Meatball Casserole
This casserole is so convenient! Once you’ve baked it, you can either serve it as is with a simple side salad and a basket of bread, on top of a plate of pasta or sandwich them in a bun!
Here are some delicious ideas for our favorite ways to serve this meatball casserole:
- Pasta: Penne, rotini, spaghetti, or zucchini noodles for a meal low in carbohydrates
- Sandwiches: Meatball subs or meatballs sliders
- Side salad: Caprese pasta salad, Olive Garden salad with homemade Olive Garden dressing
- Bread: Easy garlic bread, Olive Garden breadsticks, easy garlic parmesan knots
FAQs
Certainly! You can cut the recipe in half and use a smaller dish. You can also double the recipe and make 2 dishes. It works both ways.
Yes, frozen fully cooked meatballs can be used just thaw them first.
Keep any leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make sure to keep them in an airtight container.
This make a great freezer meal! Prepare and assemble the casserole as directed. Once completely cooled cover the freezer-friendly pan tightly with a couple of layers of foil, to avoid freezer burn, and place them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator then bake and enjoy!
More One Pan Italian Dinners
- Crockpot Lasagna: An even easier way to make the traditional recipe!
- One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta: A fun twist on the classic chicken parm!
- Instant Pot Spaghetti: The easiest way you’ll ever make spaghetti!
- One Pot Chicken Caprese Pasta: Takes less than 20 minutes!
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Meatball Casserole
Video
Ingredients
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 1 pound 80% lean ground beef (could sub with half ground pork)
- 1 large egg (beaten)
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup finely chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons Chopped fresh Italian Flat leaf parsley (optional)
- 1-2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- fresh parsley , for serving
For serving: Pasta, Zucchini noodles or Sub sandwiches
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Pour about 1/2 cup marinara sauce into a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Combine the meat, egg, breadcrumbs, cheese, salt, garlic, onion, black pepper and parsley in a bowl. Stir just until combined, do not over mix. Add a Tablespoon or two of water as needed to keep a wet mixture.
- Use a large cookie scoop or spoon to scoop the meat. Then form into 2" balls and place in the baking dish.
- Pour the remaining sauce over the top of the meatballs. Sprinkle with cheese.
- Bake covered with foil for 20 minutes, or until no longer pink in the middle. Remove foil and continue cooking for 5 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly. Serve meatballs on their own or over spaghetti noodles. Top with fresh parsley.
Notes
- You can use 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and onion powder if you do not have fresh garlic and onions. You may also use 2 teaspoons dried parsley if you do not have fresh.
- If I have pork on hand, I like to use 1/2 pound ground beef and 1/2 pound ground pork. It creates juicier meatballs. You could also do half ground beed and half ground turkey to cut back on fat.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, Beef, Casseroles, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Freezer-Friendly, Italian, Low Carb, Nut-Free
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
If I decide to freeze it, do I bake it first or wait until I’m ready to use it?
I would freeze it unbaked :)
Yes! Finally, a recipe everyone in the family loves! We tried it as sub sandwiches the other night, which turned out great.
Mmm love to serve over sub sandwiches!
The absolute best comfort food ever. All three of my kids loved this!
Could I make this in the crockpot? Is so how long?