Description
This Cheesy Meatball Pasta Bake recipe is a comforting and satisfying dish that combines tender meatballs, pasta, marinara sauce, and gooey melted cheese. It’s a perfect family-friendly meal that’s easy to make and sure to please everyone at the table.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Pasta Bake:
- 12 ounces penne or rigatoni pasta
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or parsley (optional)
- olive oil for greasing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until well combined. Roll into 1-inch meatballs and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until browned and cooked through.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and return to the pot. Stir in marinara sauce and half of the shredded mozzarella.
- Gently fold in the cooked meatballs. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining mozzarella.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes or until bubbly and golden. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped basil or parsley if desired.
Notes
- You can use store-bought frozen meatballs to save time—just cook them before adding.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meatball mix for a spicy kick.
- This dish freezes well before or after baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
