Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Meatball Pasta Bake, a dish that combines juicy meatballs, al dente pasta, and rich marinara sauce topped with gooey cheese. Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy family gatherings, this bake can be prepared in just 30 minutes. Your family will be raving about it, leaving you with requests for seconds!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) meatballs (store-bought or homemade)
- 8 oz (225g) short pasta (penne or rigatoni)
- 2 cups (480ml) marinara sauce
- 1 cup (100g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (50g) grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup (10g) fresh basil, chopped
- ½ cup (50g) panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp (30ml) olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a large baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a bowl, mix together the cooked pasta, meatballs, marinara sauce, half of the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses, and Italian seasoning until well combined.
- Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- Top with remaining cheese blend and sprinkle panko breadcrumbs mixed with olive oil over the top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/6 of bake (about 300g)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 70mg