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Easy Meatball Casserole

Meatball Casserole

Easy meatball casserole recipe with ground beef, marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese. Ready in 50 minutes - perfect family dinner!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
5 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 servings
Calories 480 kcal

Equipment

  • mixing bowl
  • oven
  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • large skillet
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • knife
  • cutting board

Ingredients
  

Meatballs

  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Assembly

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 24 ounce marinara sauce (1 jar)
  • 8 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese shredded (about 2 cups)
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or a thin layer of olive oil.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, beaten egg, breadcrumbs, milk, Parmesan cheese, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Use your hands to mix gently until all ingredients are just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat.
  • Shape the meat mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs, placing them on a clean plate or baking sheet. You should have approximately 20-24 meatballs.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches to avoid crowding, brown the meatballs on all sides for about 5-7 minutes total; they do not need to be cooked through at this stage. Transfer the browned meatballs to the prepared baking dish.
  • Pour the marinara sauce evenly over the meatballs in the baking dish, gently shaking the dish to distribute the sauce.
  • Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the sauce and meatballs.
  • Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned in spots, and the meatballs are cooked through. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

Notes

Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving for easier slicing.
Keyword casserole, ground beef, meatballs