Description
Savory Italian-style Meatball Pasta Casserole brings hearty comfort straight from Mediterranean kitchens to dinner tables. Melted cheese, perfectly seasoned meatballs, and al dente pasta create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup (60 g) breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for cooking)
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or ziti)
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (50 g) shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp fresh basil or parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Activate the oven to 375F (190C). Submerge pasta in boiling water, cooking until perfectly tender. Strain and reserve.
- Meatball Crafting: Thoroughly combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper in a mixing vessel. Shape into uniform spherical portions. Sear meatballs in heated olive oil, rotating to achieve a golden exterior, approximately 5 minutes. Partially cooking ensures final tenderness during baking.
- Casserole Construction: Transfer cooked pasta into a spacious baking receptacle. Integrate marinara sauce and Italian seasoning, creating a harmonious blend. Gently embed meatballs throughout the pasta landscape. Generously crown the surface with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, ensuring complete coverage.
- Oven Transformation: Shield the dish with aluminum foil, transferring to the preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes, allowing flavors to meld. Uncover and continue baking an additional 10 minutes until cheese transforms into a molten, golden landscape, signaling culinary perfection.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef with some fat content to keep meatballs juicy and prevent dryness during baking.
- Mix breadcrumbs thoroughly to help bind meatballs and prevent crumbling; consider using fresh breadcrumbs for better texture.
- Toast Italian seasoning briefly in a dry pan before adding to enhance flavor profile and release aromatic compounds.
- Let casserole rest 5-10 minutes after baking to allow cheese to set and make serving easier without losing melty consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg