Meatball casserole is simple to make with homemade meatballs, marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese. It’s a comforting dinner on its own without pasta, or serve it with noodles or in a sub.

meatball casserole in baking dish

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Cheesy Meatball Casserole without Pasta

Mouthwatering and comforting, this meatball casserole is made with my easy homemade meatballs, savory herbs, and tangy marinara sauce then baked under a layer of golden, melty cheese.

It’s a hearty one-pan dinner that’s as wholesome as it is crowd-pleasing. Serve it on its own without pasta, over spaghetti, or tucked inside a meatball sub!

Ingredient Notes

meatball ingredients on counter
  • Marinara sauce: I have a simple marinara sauce I make from scratch but feel free to take a shortcut and use a store-bought sauce if preferred. 
  • Ground beef: 80% lean ground beef will still leave you with enough flavor and fat for juicy and flavorful meatballs. You could also substitute half of the ground beef with ground pork for juicier meatballs.
  • Egg: Help to bind all of the ingredients together so that your meatballs don’t fall apart.
  • Breadcrumbs: When you add breadcrumbs to a meat mixture it helps absorb any excess moisture. This will also help to bind your meatballs together, working with the egg to keep them nice and whole. 
  • Parmesan cheese: A strong sharp cheesy flavor inside the meatball adds to the yummy taste and lends to a little extra salty seasoning. I prefer grated from a block.
  • Mozzarella: If you can help it, shred your own from a block for a meltier, gooey finish and fresher taste. 
  • Chopped onion and garlic: Substitute 1/2 teaspoon onion powder and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
  • Parsley: You can also use dried parsley. Italian seasoning is another delicious option!

How to Make Meatball Casserole

Step by Step collage making meatball casserole.
  • Make the meatballs. Combine the meat, egg, breadcrumbs, cheese, and seasonings into a mixing bowl. Make sure all ingredients are incorporated fully but don’t overmix.
  • Form the meatballs. Use a large cookie scoop or regular spoon to scoop the meat, transfer it to your own hands and form the balls by rotating it between the palms of your hands in a circular motion. Each meatball should be about 2 inches.
  • Place in baking dish. Place meatballs in the prepared baking dish with marinara sauce and repeat with the remaining meatball mixture. Ensure they are evenly spaced apart so they can cook all the way through.
  • Bake the meatball casserole. Once you’ve added all your meatballs to the dish, pour the marinara sauce over top and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake covered with aluminum foil for 20 minutes then remove the foil and continue baking for 5 minutes until the cheese is bubbly. Enjoy!
meatball casserole in white baking dish

Serving Suggestions

spoonful of meatball casserole

More comfort food casserole that deliver on taste include this ground beef casserole, easy hamburger casserole and million dollar spaghetti casserole!

More Meatball Recipes

spoonful of meatball casserole

Meatball Casserole

5 from 5 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 5
Meatball casserole is simple to make with homemade meatballs, marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese. It’s a comforting dinner with or without pasta!
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Video

Ingredients 

  • 24 ounces marinara sauce
  • 1 pound 80% lean ground beef (could sub with half ground pork)
  • 1 large egg (beaten)
  • ¼ cup breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons Chopped fresh Italian Flat leaf parsley (optional)
  • 1-2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • fresh parsley , for serving

For serving: Pasta, Zucchini noodles or Sub sandwiches

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • Pour about 1/2 cup marinara sauce into a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  • Combine 1 pound ground meat, 1 egg, 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup cheese, salt, 2 teaspoons garlic, 1/4 cup chopped onion, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and 2 Tablespoons parsley in a bowl. Stir just until combined, do not over mix. Add a Tablespoon or two of water as needed to keep a wet mixture. 
  • Use a large cookie scoop or spoon to scoop the meat. Then form into 2"  balls and place in the baking dish. 
  • Pour the remaining sauce over the top of the meatballs. Sprinkle with cheese.
  • Bake covered with foil for 20 minutes, or until no longer pink in the middle. Remove foil and continue cooking for 5 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly. Serve meatballs on their own or over spaghetti noodles. Top with fresh parsley.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Substitutes:
  • You can use 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and onion powder if you do not have fresh garlic and onions. You may also use 2 teaspoons dried parsley if you do not have fresh.
  • If I have pork on hand, I like to use 1/2 pound ground beef and 1/2 pound ground pork. It creates juicier meatballs. You could also do half ground beed and half ground turkey to cut back on fat.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 5meatballs, Calories: 356kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 28g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 117mg, Sodium: 1392mg, Potassium: 791mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 967IU, Vitamin C: 13mg, Calcium: 222mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Substitutions and Variations

  • Leaner meatballs. Use 1/2 ground beef and 1/2 ground turkey. Or try turkey meatballs or use chicken meatballs for chicken Parmesan meatballs!
  • No marinara sauce? Your favorite tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce works in this meatballs casserole!
  • Similar sizes. If you like smaller meatballs by all means use a small cookie scoop. The most important thing is making them even sizes so they cook evenly.  
  • Add pasta to the dish. Instead of serving meatball casserole without pasta, turn this into a ziti with meatballs casserole!

FAQs

Can I make a smaller meatball casserole?

Certainly! You can cut the recipe in half and use a smaller dish. You can also double the recipe and make 2 dishes. It works both ways.

Can I use frozen meatballs?

Yes, frozen fully cooked meatballs can be used just thaw them first.

How to store leftover meatball casserole?

Keep any leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make sure to keep them in an airtight container.

Can I freeze this meatballs casserole?

This make a great freezer meal! Prepare and assemble the casserole as directed. Once completely cooled cover the freezer-friendly pan tightly with a couple of layers of foil, to avoid freezer burn, and place them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator then bake and enjoy!