Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

Create a quick and hearty meal with our Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole, perfect for busy family nights. Preheat the oven, then combine the pasta, marinara sauce, and a blend of cheeses in a baking dish and bake the frozen meatballs. No need to thaw anything; simply dump the ingredients and let the oven do the work. The result is a bubbling, cheesy masterpiece that fills your home with irresistible aromas. With minimal prep and maximum flavor, it’s a delicious solution for your busiest evenings.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Dump and bake casseroles are a total game-changer for busy families craving the comfort of homemade meals!

Minimal Prep Work: This meatball pasta bake lives up to its name because you simply dump all the ingredients then bake. There is no concern about the lack of flavor either. You can enjoy a flavorful dish and the time-saving convenience.

Fewer Dishes: Since this recipe is made by cooking frozen meatballs, you can look forward to clean-up being a breeze. Say goodbye to a sink full of pots and pans and more time spent enjoying the time around the dinner table with your family. Keep reading to find other tips sprinkled in this post to help save more time!

Customization: It is easy to adapt any dump-and-bake casserole to meet dietary needs or personal preferences. Whether you follow a vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or low-carb diet, you can customize this meatball bake.

Serve as is or with a simple side dish such as parmesan carrots, roasted cauliflower steaks, or instant pot fresh green beans.

We are excited to partner with Pick ‘n Save and Metro Market, a store we’ve proudly supported for years. When shopping in-store or online for pickup, I find that their Kroger and Simple Truth brands ensure quality and savings, adding an extra layer of assurance for families. Create Kids Club values wholesome choices and delicious meals, and our collaboration creates an ideal platform for affordable, quality living.

Ingredients

• Gluten-free frozen meatballs – frozen meatballs keep this recipe simple, but fresh baked meatballs are also an option if desired.
• Marinara – choose any flavor of marinara such as roasted garlic, tomato & basil, fire roasted tomato or four cheese.
• Water – a necessary ingredient that helps to cook the pasta. The water can also be swapped with chicken, beef or vegetable broth if preferred.
• Roundy’s Parmesan cheese – shredded or grated parmesan cheese adds an additional layer of flavor to the cheesy meatball casserole. We have also omitted the parm and doubled the mozzarella cheese with good success.
• Gluten-free penne pasta uncooked – the key is to pour in uncooked pasta. It will cook through the baking process by soaking up the water and pasta sauce.
• Salt & pepper – season to taste
• Roundy’s shredded mozzarella cheese – mandatory if you are seeking an extra cheesy pasta bake that kids love! The cheeses can also be replaced with a dairy-free option to turn this into a dairy free meatball casserole.

Recipe Instructions

To get started, preheat the oven to 425°F. Then, place the frozen meatballs onto a baking sheet. Ensure the meatballs are not overcrowded on the sheet by leaving space and not stacking.

For easy clean-up, you can line the baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. This also makes it extremely easy for kids to help with the clean-up process. As soon as the baking sheet cools off, kids can remove the liner and discard.

Add the dry pasta, salt, pepper, water, marinara, and parmesan cheese. Stir. Cover with aluminum foil.

Covering the casserole dish with foil helps to thoroughly cook the pasta and retain moisture.

Place the meatballs on the baking sheet into the oven along with the pasta bake. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Stir the pasta. It will be bit liquidy, but that is ok.

Place the baked meatballs on the top of the pasta then sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese. Continue to bake without foil for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese melts.

What To Serve with Frozen Meatball Casserole

Serve this dish with any vegetable side dish such as Instant Pot Green Beans, Air Fryer Broccolini, Roasted Cauliflower Steaks or Frozen Mixed Vegetables Recipe to make it a complete meal.

Here are also some ideas for what to make using leftovers of our meatball pasta bake:

• Meatball Subs – Scoop the meatballs and sauce from the casserole and serve them in sub rolls with a serving of pasta on the side.
• Stuffed Bell Peppers – Cut bell peppers in half, removing the seeds then boil for 10-15 minutes while the pasta bake cooks. Then, add a scoop of the pasta bake into the bell peppers, top with additional cheese and serve. For a crispy exterior, broil for a few minutes.
• Vegetable Bowls – Serve the meatball casserole over sauteed vegetables for a balanced dinner meal.

Expert Tips

• Experiment with flavors that complement the meatballs. Consider adding garlic, herbs or spices to enhance the overall taste of the recipe. Along with the salt and pepper, Italian seasoning, oregano and basil work well.
• Add vegetables to the sauce. Consider adding onions, bell peppers, broccoli, or mushrooms to the pasta sauce for a boost of nutrients. You can chop the fresh vegetables and add straight to the casserole dish.
• Use an appropriate sized dish. You will want to choose a casserole dish that is large enough to accommodate all the ingredients and deep enough to prevent overflow. A 9×13 baking dish is the best dish to use in our opinion.
• Customize with toppings. Cheese is our go-to topping to add a cheesy layer that everyone loves. Another variety of shredded cheese, sauteed vegetables or gluten-free breadcrumbs on top add a delicious crust.
• Let it rest. Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes after removing from the oven. This helps the flavors meld together and makes it easier to serve. Plus, it gives the pasta a few more minutes to soak up any remaining liquid.
• Try more frozen meatball recipes. Wondering what to do with leftover meatballs? Make another meal such as Frozen Meatballs in the Crockpot, Swedish Meatballs with Frozen Meatballs or Instant Pot Spaghetti and Frozen Meatballs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Storage and Reheating Instructions

• Allow the casserole to cool to room temperature before storing. If you still have a large batch left, consider diving it into smaller portions. This prevents the entire casserole from being reheated multiple times.
• Once cooled, transfer to airtight container(s). You can also cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil if you plan to consume within 1-2 days.
• Store dump and bake meatball casserole in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
• If you want to freeze this casserole, wrap the casserole or divided portions in plastic wrap then place in a resealable freezer bag or container. Store frozen casseroles for up to 3 months.
• To reheat, place in a preheated 350°F oven until it’s heated through, and the internal temperature is 165°F. You can also microwave in 30-second increments until hot.

More Easy Casserole Recipes

• Cheeseburger Casserole
• Big Mac Casserole
• Crockpot Taco Casserole
• Gluten-free Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
• Crockpot Taco Casserole
• Beef Enchilada Casserole