Easy Cheesy Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole
A quick and comforting casserole made by dumping frozen meatballs, marinara sauce, and cheese into a dish and baking. Perfect for busy weeknights with minimal prep and maximum flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: 35-40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 24 frozen meatballs (about 1 lb / 450 g), pre-cooked beef or turkey
- 2 cups (16 fl oz / 480 ml) marinara sauce
- 2 cups (about 7 oz / 200 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup (about 1.75 oz / 50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Lightly grease an 8×8 inch (20×20 cm) casserole dish with cooking spray or olive oil.
- Layer the frozen meatballs evenly in the bottom of the casserole dish.
- Pour the marinara sauce over the meatballs, ensuring each meatball is coated.
- Sprinkle Italian seasoning and garlic powder evenly over the sauce.
- Top with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, spreading evenly.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown and sauce is hot.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with fresh chopped basil or parsley if desired.
Notes
If cheese browns too fast, tent loosely with foil halfway through baking. Add a splash of water or extra sauce if meatballs seem dry. Assemble the night before and refrigerate to save time; add 10 extra minutes to baking time if baking from chilled. Freshly shredded mozzarella melts better than pre-shredded. Use gluten-free meatballs and marinara for gluten-free version. Double the batch and freeze half for easy reheating later.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/6th of the c
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 27
Keywords: meatball casserole, easy dinner, dump and bake, quick casserole, cheesy meatballs, weeknight meal, comfort food