Cheesy Meatball Casserole

This Cheesy Meatball Casserole is easy to prepare, allowing you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying a delicious and fulfilling meal with loved ones.
It features tender, flavorful meatballs enveloped in a rich and savory tomato sauce, providing a hearty and satisfying base.

Everyone loves melting gooey cheesy cheese, but it's the mixture of herbs and spices, that has them licking their fingers and asking for more.

Tips to Consider When Making Cheesy Meatball Casserole

Why the use of small macaroni such as elbows, ditalini, or small shells

1- Some people enjoy the texture that small macaroni offers. It holds up well to a variety of sauces and ingredients.

2 - The small size of the small macaroni, makes it easy to eat, especially for children.

3 - The size and shape of the  small macaroni, allow sauces to cling to the pasta better

4 - Many classic pasta dishes already call for macaroni, making this one a preference

5- Elbow macaroni tends to cook pretty quickly when compared to the larger pasta shapes.

Ingredients needed to make Cheesy Meatball Casserole

1 T olive oil
1 medium onion, divided - one-half diced and one-half grated
2 small carrots, diced
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
1 24.5-oz. bottle passata or tomato puree
10 oz. small macaroni such as elbows, ditalini or small shells
1 lb. 80% lean ground beef
3 T. panko breadcrumbs
3 T. grated parmesan
1 large egg
½ t. dried oregano
½ t. dried basil
1 c. fresh parsley, roughly chopped, divided
1-½ c. shredded mozzarella cheese
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

HOW TO MAKE CHEESY MEATBALL CASSEROLE

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Lightly spray a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables become translucent, approximately 3-4 minutes.

Add passata and let the sauce simmer for 6-8 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook al dente, 2-3 minutes less than the package instructions.

Drain the pasta and return to the cooking pot. Add one-third of the tomato sauce to the pasta and stir to evenly coat pasta. Transfer the pasta to the prepared casserole dish.

In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef, grated onion, breadcrumbs, parmesan, egg, oregano, basil, and one-half of the fresh parsley.

Generously season with salt and pepper and begin working the mixture with your hands. Mix just until everything is combined, but don’t overwork the meatball mixture. Roll into 14-16 meatballs and place the meatballs on top of the pasta layer.

Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the meatballs. Sprinkle with the shredded mozzarella cheese.

Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and place in the oven to bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes, just until the cheese has melted and is golden-brown.

Serve garnished with the remaining fresh parsley. Enjoy!

WHAT TO SERVE WITH MEATBALL CASSEROLE

CHEESY GARLIC BREAD Soft, warm garlic bread pairs perfectly with the savory flavors of the meatball casserole and helps soak up any extra sauce.

CLASSIC CAPRESE SALAD: A classic Caprese salad with ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil leaves, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze offers a light and refreshing accompaniment to the casserole.

ROASTED VEGETABLES: Roasted vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, zucchini, and bell peppers offer a colorful and nutritious side dish that balances out the hearty flavors of the meatball casserole.

GARLIC MASHED RED POTATOES: Creamy garlic mashed potatoes complement the casserole's flavors while adding a comforting element to the meal.

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