Description
Hearty meatball casserole delivers classic comfort with Italian-inspired flavors that dance across palates. Melted cheese, savory marinara, and perfectly seasoned meatballs create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (or mixture of ground beef and pork)
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (Italian-style or plain)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried parsley)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsps olive oil (for frying the meatballs)
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375F (190C) and prepare a casserole dish with non-stick spray.
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, then drain and lightly coat with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Create meatballs by gently mixing ground beef with breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, chopped parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until just combined.
- Form the meat mixture into uniform round balls, approximately 1-inch in diameter.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and carefully brown meatballs on all sides until golden, about 5-7 minutes.
- Arrange a base layer of cooked pasta in the prepared casserole dish, spreading marinara sauce evenly across the surface.
- Distribute browned meatballs over the sauce, ensuring even coverage.
- Generously sprinkle shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the entire casserole.
- Slide the uncovered dish into the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese melts and turns slightly golden.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before garnishing with fresh chopped basil or parsley.
- Serve immediately while hot and cheese is still bubbling.
Notes
- Customize meatball size for even cooking, ensuring they’re bite-sized and uniform to prevent uneven browning.
- Use lean ground beef or turkey for a lighter version that maintains rich flavor and reduces overall fat content.
- Allow meatballs to rest briefly after frying to help them retain moisture and prevent crumbling during baking.
- For gluten-free adaptation, substitute breadcrumbs with crushed gluten-free crackers or almond flour to maintain binding and texture.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg