One Pot Dump and Bake Meatball Pasta Recipe
This One Pot Dump and Bake Meatball Recipe is a simple, comforting meal perfect for busy weeknights. Combining uncooked pasta, frozen precooked meatballs, marinara sauce, and cheese, everything is layered in one baking dish and cooked together, creating a cheesy, flavorful casserole with minimal prep and cleanup.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients:
- 3 cups water
- 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- 16 ounces uncooked rotini or penne pasta
- 1 (14-ounce) package frozen precooked meatballs
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- Chopped fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it is ready for baking the casserole once assembled.
- Combine Sauce and Water: In a large oven-safe baking dish, pour the marinara sauce and 3 cups of water together. Add the optional crushed red pepper flakes and stir to combine. This liquid base will cook the pasta as the dish bakes.
- Add Pasta and Meatballs: Evenly spread the uncooked rotini or penne pasta over the sauce mixture in the baking dish. Place the frozen precooked meatballs evenly on top of the pasta, distributing them to ensure every bite will have meatballs.
- Cover and Bake: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil to trap steam, which cooks the pasta and meatballs evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes or until the pasta is tender and cooked through.
- Add Cheese: Remove the foil carefully and sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the meatballs and pasta. Return the dish uncovered to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Final Cheese Layer and Broil: Add the remaining 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese on top. If desired, place the dish under the broiler for 2-3 minutes to brown the cheese slightly, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the dish rest for a few minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving to add a fresh herbal note and color contrast.
Notes
- Make sure to use an oven-safe baking dish to prevent any damage or accidents.
- Frozen precooked meatballs save time and bake well with this recipe, no need to thaw prior to baking.
- You can substitute rotini or penne pasta with other short pasta shapes like rigatoni or shells.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to make it more or less spicy.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta.
- Let the dish sit a few minutes after baking to thicken the sauce and cool slightly for easier serving.
Keywords: one pot meatball bake, easy meatball casserole, dump and bake pasta, baked pasta and meatballs, one dish pasta meal