Meatball Pasta Casserole

Recipe Ingredients

I’ve outlined the ingredients you’ll need for this meatball pasta casserole below. Find the exact ingredient amounts and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

FOR THE MEATBALLS

• Butter – I always use unsalted butter. If you use salted, you’ll likely want to cut back on added salt.
• Onion & garlic – These offer delicious earthy, pungent flavors to the dish.
• Ground beef & Italian pork sausage – These two flavorful proteins combine to make the meatballs. I’m a huge fan of Italian pork sausage, as it’s super flavorful – I’d never think about making my lasagna soup without it!
• Egg & bread crumbs – These help bind the meatballs together.
• Salt & pepper – For simple added seasoning.

FOR THE ZITI AND SAUCE

• Canned tomatoes – I created this recipe with crushed tomatoes and petite diced tomatoes – and my preference is always for Red Gold® brand tomatoes; they’re simply so good.
• Ziti – My pasta of choice for this dish is ziti, just like in my chicken cheesesteak baked ziti. You can use another pasta shape, like penne or spirals.
• Italian seasoning – This adds delicious herby flavor to the red sauce.
• Salt & pepper – More simple seasoning.
• Red pepper flakes – Just a little bit adds so much to this meatball casserole!
• Fresh herbs – These include Italian parsley and basil.
• Mozzarella cheese – A combination of cubed block mozzarella and little fresh mozzarella balls infuse the casserole with gooey, chewy pockets of cheesy goodness.

Recipe Tips & Variations

This beautifully simple casserole can be adjusted to suit your tastes and what you have in the pantry. Here are a few of my best tips for making baked ziti with meatballs:

• Try a different protein. You can swap out the ground beef in the meatballs for ground turkey or chicken if you want to lighten things up.
• Use a store-bought sauce. If you’re short on time, you can use a jar of your favorite pasta sauce in place of the homemade sauce (although, I do recommend making it homemade!).
• Don’t overcook the pasta. This is key – to avoid a mushy final result, cook the pasta just to al dente or even a touch less. The pasta will soak up some of the sauce while it bakes, so try to start with firmer pasta.
• A different pasta shape. Ziti is my pasta shape of choice for this meatball pasta bake, but penne or rigatoni will also work. Kids may enjoy spiral-shaped pasta, but tube-shaped pasta, in my opinion, is the best vehicle for the sauce.
• Add veggies. If you want to tuck in a few veggies, go right ahead! You can cook them when you are making the sauce. Some ideal choices include chopped red bell peppers, diced zucchini, chopped baby spinach, or sliced mushrooms.

What To Serve With Meatball Pasta Bake

While this is a one-dish dinner, I like to add a side of vegetables or a fresh salad to finish it off. You can also serve slices of crusty bread and softened salted butter. A few more suggestions are below.

• Salad. A rich main dish needs a crunchy side salad! My roasted beet salad, Italian chopped salad, or Mediterranean chopped salads are refreshing sides to the heavier main meal.
• Garlic bread. We love rounding out our comfort food meatball pasta bake with the ultimate comfort food side – cheesy homemade garlic bread!
• Vegetables. A green vegetable or two balances the heartiness of the meatball pasta casserole. Try a plate of roasted asparagus or a warm grilled vegetable salad with big portions of pasta.

Proper Storage

Another aspect of this casserole that I love is that it keeps well! You can store it all together or portion it out into individual containers to make reheating easy. Here’s how to store leftovers:

• Fridge – Placed cooled, leftover pasta in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Freezer – To help yourself later, transfer individual portions of meatball pasta casserole into freezer-safe containers and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost the casserole in the fridge before reheating it.
• To Reheat – Place the casserole in an oven-safe dish and rewarm it in a preheated 350°F oven until it’s heated through and the cheese is melted. Or, heat the casserole in the microwave: Place it in a microwave-safe dish and heat it in 1-minute increments until hot.