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A close-up shot of Cheesy Meatball Casserole being served, with a wooden spoon lifting a meatball covered in stringy, melted mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce out of a blue baking dish.

Cheesy Meatball Casserole

A hearty, comforting casserole loaded with tender meatballs, rich marinara, creamy ricotta, and melty mozzarella—perfect for cheese lovers and family dinners!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 385
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meatballs
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
Assembly
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cups marinara sauce
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped

Equipment

  • Baking Dish
  • Skillet
  • Mixing Bowl

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil.
  2. Combine ground beef or turkey, breadcrumbs, parmesan, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix until just combined.
  3. Roll mixture into 1 to 1 1/2-inch meatballs.
  4. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and sear meatballs for 2–3 minutes, turning to brown all sides.
  5. Transfer seared meatballs to the baking dish.
  6. Pour marinara sauce evenly over the meatballs.
  7. Drop spoonfuls of ricotta cheese over the top.
  8. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly over the casserole.
  9. Bake for 25–30 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through and cheese is melted and bubbling.
  10. Rest 5 minutes, then garnish with fresh basil before serving.

Notes

Serve over pasta, zucchini noodles, or crusty bread for an extra comforting meal. Add crushed red pepper for heat!