Description
Quick and hearty Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole delivers comforting Italian-inspired flavors in minimal prep time. Pasta, sauce, and pre-made meatballs combine effortlessly to create a satisfying meal you’ll crave for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 14 oz (397 g) fully-cooked miniature meatballs (thawed if frozen)
- 16 oz (454 g) uncooked rotini pasta
- 25 oz (709 g) jar marinara sauce
- 3 cups (720 ml) water
- 2 cups (226 g) shredded mozzarella cheese (or Italian blend)
- Parmesan cheese (optional, for extra flavor)
- Fresh chopped herbs (basil, oregano, and parsley for garnish)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Calibrate the oven to 425°F (220°C), creating an ideal thermal environment for the impending culinary masterpiece.
- Pasta Foundation: In a spacious baking dish, amalgamate uncooked rotini, marinara sauce, and water, crafting a liquid base that will transform during cooking.
- Meatball Integration: Strategically embed pre-cooked meatballs throughout the pasta mixture, ensuring complete sauce immersion and flavor distribution.
- Initial Baking Phase: Encase the dish with aluminum foil and transfer to the preheated oven, allowing the ingredients to steam and meld for 30 minutes, promoting pasta tenderness and flavor development.
- Cheese Transformation: Remove the foil, assess pasta consistency, then lavishly crown the casserole with shredded mozzarella, creating a molten, golden surface that promises textural complexity.
- Final Baking Stage: Return the uncovered dish to the oven for an additional 10 minutes, watching the cheese bubble and develop a tantalizing golden crust.
- Resting and Garnishing: Extract the casserole from the oven, allowing a brief 5-minute rest to stabilize flavors, then embellish with Parmesan and fresh herbs, elevating the dish’s aromatic profile and visual appeal.
Notes
- Optimize Pasta Absorption: Use room temperature marinara sauce and water to help uncooked pasta cook evenly and prevent hardening.
- Choose Meatball Quality: Select pre-cooked, high-quality meatballs for consistent texture and enhanced flavor profile.
- Manage Cheese Melting: Shred mozzarella fresh for better melting and more luxurious cheese coverage across the casserole.
- Control Moisture Balance: Stir midway through cooking to prevent pasta from sticking and ensure uniform sauce distribution.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg