Description
A hearty and comforting Meatball Casserole featuring tender homemade meatballs baked in rich marinara sauce topped with melted mozzarella cheese. This classic Italian-inspired dish combines beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and aromatic herbs for a satisfying meal perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 small onion, finely minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce and Topping
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley (optional, for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for searing)
Instructions
- Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, eggs, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, minced onion, Italian seasoning, chopped parsley, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined to avoid overworking the meatballs.
- Form Meatballs: Roll the mixture into uniform 1.5-inch meatballs to ensure even cooking.
- Sear Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and sear them on all sides until browned but not cooked through, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Preheat Oven: While searing the meatballs, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking.
- Layer in Baking Dish: Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce evenly at the bottom of a large baking dish. Place the browned meatballs over the sauce, then pour the remaining marinara sauce evenly over the top of the meatballs.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the sauced meatballs to create a cheesy topping.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes to allow meatballs to cook through and flavors to meld.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
- Garnish and Serve: Once baked, garnish the casserole with chopped fresh basil or parsley if desired. Serve hot for a delicious and comforting meal.
Notes
- For extra juicy meatballs, do not overmix the mixture.
- You can substitute ground beef entirely with ground pork or turkey for different flavors.
- Breadcrumbs can be substituted with gluten-free breadcrumbs if needed.
- If you prefer spicy, add red pepper flakes to the mixture or sauce.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and freeze well for up to 2 months.
