By Becky Hardin
Updated May 5, 2025
This Meatball Parmesan is hearty, rich, and delicious. Perfect for cozy winter weeknights! It features juicy meatballs smothered in a delicious marinara sauce, topped with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. A simple dish that is beautiful and oh so tasty!
5-Star Review
“I made these tonight and they were wonderful! I added some ricotta to the meatballs and they were delicious. Great recipe! Thanks for sharing!” – Sandy
Meatball Parmesan Casserole
This hearty Meatball Parmesan bake marries homemade juicy meatballs, tangy marinara sauce, and Italian cheeses in one skillet or pan, a perfectly scrumptious weeknight meal. It’s also so versatile—serve the meatballs on pasta, with polenta, or freeze to enjoy later. They taste great in subs, sandwiches, or you can even transform them into sliders.
One recipe, so many options! It may be difficult to decide how to eat them, but make a batch, use part now, and stash the rest for another day. You’ll be glad you have a meal ready to go on hand.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ ½ cup dry breadcrumbs or 4 slices stale white bread
- ▢ 2 tablespoons milk or cream or buttermilk
- ▢ 3 large eggs lightly beaten
- ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ▢ 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese divided in half and more for garnish
- ▢ 1½ teaspoons dried parsley
- ▢ 1½ teaspoons dried basil
- ▢ ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ▢ 1½ pounds ground chuck or a blend of ground pork, ground sirloin, and ground chuck
- ▢ 2 cups marinara sauce store-bought or homemade
- ▢ ½ pound fresh mozzarella cheese cut into 2-inch pieces
Video
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 400°F. Cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the breadcrumbs (if using bread slices, cut off the crust and tear bread into bite-size pieces) and milk in a large mixing bowl and stir until breadcrumbs are completely coated. Set aside for 5 minutes or until liquid is almost absorbed. ½ cup dry breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons milk
- Add eggs, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, parsley, basil, and oregano to the breadcrumbs/milk mixture and stir well. 3 large eggs, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 1½ teaspoons dried parsley, 1½ teaspoons dried basil, ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Add ground meat and mix, gently, just until incorporated and form into 2½-inch balls. 1½ pounds ground chuck
- Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes or until brown & cooked through. If more color on the outside of the meatballs is desired, set the oven to broil and broil the meatballs 2-3 minutes or until a darker brown.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F. While the meatballs cook, prepare the sauce (if making homemade).
- Brush a 12-inch skillet with canola oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place 1-cup of sauce in the prepared skillet. Set the meatballs in the skillet, leaving a little space between the meatballs. Pour the remaining sauce over the meatballs and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake at 375°F for 20-30 minutes, or until the sauce is hot and bubbly. Top each meatball with a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese and a sprinkling of Parmesan. Cook just until the cheese is melted and starting to lightly brown. ½ pound fresh mozzarella cheese
- Allow the Meatball Parmesan to cool 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with a toasty Italian baguette and a side salad.
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Becky’s Tips
- Any ground meat would work. Ground beef would work great as well.
- You can also fry the meatballs: Heat about a tbsp of oil in a skillet, then add the meatballs and fry until golden all around, which should take about 7 to 10 minutes.
- For easier prep, make meatballs ahead of time and keep refrigerated until ready to use.
- In a pinch, you could substitute your favorite frozen meatball, partially thawed, and cook as directed, starting with the sauce step.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How To Make Meatball Parmesan Step By Step
Get the oven going and prep a baking sheet : Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat to 400°F. Cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
Prepare the breadcrumb mixture : Place 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs (if using bread slices, cut off the crust and tear bread into bite-size pieces) and 2 tablespoons milk in a large mixing bowl and stir until breadcrumbs are completely coated. Set aside for 5 minutes or until liquid is almost absorbed.
Add eggs, Parmesan, and seasoning to breadcrumbs : Add 3 large eggs, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, 1 1/2 teaspoons of dried parsley, 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil, and 1/2 teaspoon oregano to the breadcrumbs/milk mixture and stir well.
Stir in the meat : Add 1 1/2 pounds ground chuck and mix gently, just until incorporated and form into 2½-inch balls.
Place meatballs on baking sheet : Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes or until brown & cooked through. If more color on the outside of the meatballs is desired, set the oven to broil and broil the meatballs 2-3 minutes or until a darker brown. Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F.
Get your sauce going: While the meatballs cook, prepare the 2 cups of marinara sauce (if making homemade).
Prepare a skillet: Brush a 12-inch skillet with canola oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
Prepare the meatball Parmesan: Place 1-cup of sauce in the prepared skillet and set the meatballs in the skillet, leaving a little space between the meatballs. Pour the remaining sauce over the meatballs and sprinkle with 1/2 cup grated Parmesan.
Bake the meatballs : Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake at 375°F for 20-30 minutes, or until the sauce is hot and bubbly. Top each meatball with a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese and a sprinkle of Parmesan. Cook just until the cheese is melted and starting to lightly brown.
Cool and serve: Allow the Meatball Parmesan to cool 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with a toasty Italian baguette and a side salad.
How To Store
This Meatball Parmesan recipe will last 3–4 days in the fridge if stored in an airtight container. To freeze, place the cooked meatballs on a baking sheet to flash freeze. Transfer them to a freezer bag or other airtight container and place back in the freezer and they’ll keep for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
This meatball Parmesan meal is great with a nice light and fruity mandarin orange salad , but you can’t go wrong with serving a classic caesar. Make sure to have homemade garlic bread on the side to soak up all the sauce.
more delicious meatball recipes
Chicken Cordon Bleu Meatballs (with Dijon Sauce)
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Mozzarella Stuffed Italian Meatballs
Peruvian Chicken Meatballs with Green Sauce (Drop Meatballs)
Meatball Parmesan
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- ½ cup dry breadcrumbs or 4 slices stale white bread
- 2 tablespoons milk or cream or buttermilk
- 3 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese divided in half and more for garnish
- 1½ teaspoons dried parsley
- 1½ teaspoons dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1½ pounds ground chuck or a blend of ground pork, ground sirloin, and ground chuck
- 2 cups marinara sauce store-bought or homemade
- ½ pound fresh mozzarella cheese cut into 2-inch pieces
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 400°F. Cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the breadcrumbs (if using bread slices, cut off the crust and tear bread into bite-size pieces) and milk in a large mixing bowl and stir until breadcrumbs are completely coated. Set aside for 5 minutes or until liquid is almost absorbed. ½ cup dry breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons milk
- Add eggs, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, parsley, basil, and oregano to the breadcrumbs/milk mixture and stir well. 3 large eggs, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 1½ teaspoons dried parsley, 1½ teaspoons dried basil, ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Add ground meat and mix, gently, just until incorporated and form into 2½-inch balls. 1½ pounds ground chuck
- Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes or until brown & cooked through. If more color on the outside of the meatballs is desired, set the oven to broil and broil the meatballs 2-3 minutes or until a darker brown.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F. While the meatballs cook, prepare the sauce (if making homemade).
- Brush a 12-inch skillet with canola oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place 1-cup of sauce in the prepared skillet. Set the meatballs in the skillet, leaving a little space between the meatballs. Pour the remaining sauce over the meatballs and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake at 375°F for 20-30 minutes, or until the sauce is hot and bubbly. Top each meatball with a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese and a sprinkling of Parmesan. Cook just until the cheese is melted and starting to lightly brown. ½ pound fresh mozzarella cheese
- Allow the Meatball Parmesan to cool 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with a toasty Italian baguette and a side salad.
Video
Notes
- Any ground meat would work. Ground beef would work great as well.
- You can also fry the meatballs: Heat about a tbsp of oil in a skillet, then add the meatballs and fry until golden all around, which should take about 7 to 10 minutes.
- For easier prep, make meatballs ahead of time and keep refrigerated until ready to use.
- In a pinch, you could substitute your favorite frozen meatball, partially thawed, and cook as directed, starting with the sauce step.
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
