By Becky Hardin
Published Jan 15, 2024
This cheesy Meatball Casserole recipe features flavorful homemade meatballs baked with marinara sauce and plenty of cheese! Dump and bake, then serve these saucy meatballs on top of a heaping pile of spaghetti for a quick, easy, and delicious family dinner.
Why We Love This Meatball Casserole Recipe
This casserole recipe combines fresh homemade meatballs with spaghetti in a new and cheesy way!
- Easy. Everything is done in one baking dish for simple cleanup!
- Flavorful. The meatballs are flavored with onions, Italian seasoning , and garlic powder for a punchy taste.
- Kid-Friendly. This dish satisfies adults and kiddos alike with its classic flavors!
Variations on Meatball Sub Casserole
You can make these meatballs with ground pork, veal, chicken, or turkey instead of beef, or try mixing a few different meats together to create your own blend. For a bit of spice, add some crushed red pepper flakes to the mix!
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover meatball casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes, until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
This meatball casserole is great served over spaghetti or another pasta , with slices of garlic bread or a Caesar salad . You can also serve the cheesy meatballs on sub rolls!
More Italian Meatball Recipes To Try
- Homemade Meatballs
- Meatball Subs
- Baked Meatball Sliders
- Air Fryer Meatballs
- Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
- Meatball Parmesan
- Cheesy Parmesan Meatball Soup
- Mozzarella Stuffed Italian Meatballs
- Italian Wedding Soup
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 pound ground beef
- ▢ 1 large egg
- ▢ ¾ cup breadcrumbs
- ▢ 1 tablespoon dried minced onions
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning store-bought or homemade
- ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ 24 ounces marinara sauce (1 jar)
- ▢ 8 ounces freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- ▢ ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ▢ 1 pound cooked spaghetti for serving (1 box)
Video
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Add the beef, egg, breadcrumbs, onions, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, pepper, and salt to a large bowl and stir to combine. 1 pound ground beef, 1 large egg, ¾ cup breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon dried minced onions, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Form 3-inch balls from the mixture, then place them in a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Pour the marinara sauce over the meatballs and stir to combine. 24 ounces marinara sauce
- Turn the oven down to 300°F and bake again for 20 minutes.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese around the meatballs and sprinkle the Parmesan on top then bake for 10 more minutes. 8 ounces freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Serve over spaghetti and with freshly minced parsley for garnish if desired.
Equipment
- 9×13 Baking Pan
Becky’s Tips
- You can use a mix of ground veal, pork, and beef or try ground chicken or turkey meatballs.
- You can use plain, Italian, or Panko breadcrumbs.
- If you can’t find dried minced onions, you can use 1 teaspoon of onion powder instead.
- You can serve this dish with any type of pasta you like!
- Use a high-quality, flavorful marinara sauce for the best taste.
- Baking time may vary. The meatballs are finished cooking when they reach 160°F internally.
- For crispier cheese, broil the casserole for a few minutes at the end of baking.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Meatball Casserole Step by Step
Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Make the Meatballs: Add 1 pound of ground beef, 1 large egg, ¾ cup of breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon of dried minced onions, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper, and ½ teaspoon of kosher salt to a large bowl and stir to combine.
Shape the Meatballs: Form 3-inch balls from the mixture, then place them in a 9×13-inch baking pan.
Bake the Meatballs: Bake for 20 minutes.
Cover with Sauce: Pour 24 ounces (1 jar) of marinara sauce over the meatballs and stir to combine. Turn the oven down to 300°F and bake again for 20 minutes.
Top with Cheese: Sprinkle 8 ounces of freshly shredded mozzarella cheese around the meatballs and sprinkle ¼ cup of freshly grated Parmesan on top then bake for 10 more minutes. Serve over spaghetti and with freshly minced parsley for garnish if desired.
I like to use 80% lean ground beef, but you could also use a mix of ground veal, pork, and/or beef; ground turkey; or ground chicken!
Yes! Simply thaw the meatballs first and skip the initial 20-minute bake in step 4. Pour the sauce over and bake as directed in step 6.
Sure! Place everything (except the cheese) in a Crockpot and cook on high for 2-2½ hours or low for 3-4 hours. Sprinkle the cheese on top during the last few minutes of cooking to melt.
Meatball Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- 9x13 Baking Pan
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onions
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning store-bought or homemade
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 24 ounces marinara sauce (1 jar)
- 8 ounces freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 pound cooked spaghetti for serving (1 box)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Add the beef, egg, breadcrumbs, onions, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, pepper, and salt to a large bowl and stir to combine. 1 pound ground beef, 1 large egg, ¾ cup breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon dried minced onions, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Form 3-inch balls from the mixture, then place them in a 9x13-inch baking pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Pour the marinara sauce over the meatballs and stir to combine. 24 ounces marinara sauce
- Turn the oven down to 300°F and bake again for 20 minutes.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese around the meatballs and sprinkle the Parmesan on top then bake for 10 more minutes. 8 ounces freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Serve over spaghetti and with freshly minced parsley for garnish if desired.
Video
Notes
- You can use a mix of ground veal, pork, and beef or try ground chicken or turkey meatballs.
- You can use plain, Italian, or Panko breadcrumbs.
- If you can’t find dried minced onions, you can use 1 teaspoon of onion powder instead.
- You can serve this dish with any type of pasta you like!
- Use a high-quality, flavorful marinara sauce for the best taste.
- Baking time may vary. The meatballs are finished cooking when they reach 160°F internally.
- For crispier cheese, broil the casserole for a few minutes at the end of baking.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
