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Cheesy dump and bake meatball casserole in a 9x13 baking dish

Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole (Cheesy, 45 Minutes)

Dump and bake meatball casserole — frozen meatballs, uncooked pasta and marinara, baked cheesy in one dish. No boiling, no browning, 45 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 555
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb uncooked penne or rotini 16 oz
  • lb frozen Italian-style meatballs about 24 mini/cocktail-size (1/2–3/4 oz each)
  • 2 jars marinara sauce (24 oz each)
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • 2 cups shredded whole-milk mozzarella + 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Equipment

  • Deep 9x13 baking dish at least 2.5 inches deep
  • Aluminum foil heavy-duty
  • Measuring cups and spoons

Method
 

  1. Heat the oven to 375°F; grease or brush a deep 9x13 dish with olive oil.
  2. Pour in the pasta, both jars of sauce and the water; add the Italian seasoning, garlic powder and red pepper flakes; stir until the pasta is submerged. Swirl a little of the water around inside each empty sauce jar first to loosen the sauce left on the glass.
  3. Nestle the frozen meatballs on top in a single layer; cover TIGHTLY with foil.
  4. Bake 40–45 minutes; uncover, STIR, taste a piece of pasta from the centre and cut a meatball in half to check it is hot through; if the pasta is still hard, add 1/2 cup of water, re-cover and bake 10 more minutes.
  5. Top with the mozzarella and Parmesan; bake uncovered 10–15 minutes until bubbly, then broil 1–2 minutes for a golden top. Rest 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Keep the pasta submerged or it dries out.
Cover tightly with foil — a loose seal is the #1 cause of chalky pasta.
Stir halfway and check the centre piece.
Rest 10 minutes before serving — the liquid redistributes back into the pasta so it is not watery.
Garnish: fresh parsley or basil, chopped, to serve.