Name: Meatball Pasta Bake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 lb. ground beef; 1 lb. ground Italian sausage; 2 tbsp grated onion; 1 egg; 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs; 1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese; 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning; 1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley; 1/2 tbsp salt; 1/2 tbsp black pepper; 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 1 23 oz. jar store-bought marinara sauce; 1 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes; 1/2 cup red wine; 1 cup water; 1 16 oz. box of Ditalini pasta; 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese; 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese; 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

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Everyone loves meatballs and pasta! This hearty baked pasta casserole is a fan-favorite for the entire family.

cast iron skilled of baked meatballs and pasta covered in cheese

Why We Love this Recipe

This casserole is made in one skillet. No extra pans needed.
The pasta cooks right in the sauce along with the meatballs.
It’s great for a casual family dinner or dress it up for a more formal meal by adding Italian bread, a side salad, and wine.

Meatball Ingredients

Sauce Ingredients

Let’s Make Meatball Pasta Bake

Add all of the meatball ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
Using your hands, gently fold the ingredients together being careful not to over-mix.
Form the mix into large-sized meatballs.
You should get 10-12 meatballs.

Heat olive oil on medium-high in a large ovenproof skillet for 2-3 minutes.
Working in small batches, brown meatballs on all sides.
Set meatballs aside on a plate after they are browned.
In the same skillet, add the marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, red wine, and water.
Cook on medium-high heat until the mixture boils.
While the sauce is cooking, mix the ricotta cheese and parmesan cheese and set it aside.
Once the sauce boils, stir the dry pasta into the sauce mix.
Nestle the meatballs back in the skillet.
Add spoons full of the ricotta cheese mix between the meatballs.
Cover and bake for 35 minutes at 400°.
After 35 minutes, uncover the skillet, cover the dish with shredded mozzarella cheese and bake for another 5-7 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
Garnish with fresh basil and serve.

collage showing how to make meatball pasta bake

Krazy Kitchen Mom Tips

The secret to a tender meatball is to use your hands to gently mix without over mixing the ingredients. The best way to do this is to use a folding method to gently fold the ingredients over each other until they come together.
In a hurry? No problem! Use frozen meatballs. Although they may not be as large as homemade, you will cut out the time it takes to mix and brown them.
I recommend using sturdy pasta noodles like ditalini, elbow macaroni, or ziti.
Leftovers should be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

green plate with a meatballs, pasta, bread, and wine

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