Description
Savory “cheesy meatball casserole” brings comfort and warmth to dinner tables with its rich layers of flavor. Hearty ingredients meld together, creating a satisfying meal that connects families around shared culinary joy you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) extra-lean ground beef (90-93% lean)
- 1 large egg
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 small yellow or white onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Binding and Additional Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs (or seasoned breadcrumbs)
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Warm the culinary workspace by heating the oven to 375°F and prepare a foil-lined baking sheet with non-stick spray.
- Craft delicate meatballs by gently combining ground meat with complementary ingredients, ensuring a light touch to maintain tenderness. Utilize a cookie scoop to create uniform spherical portions, approximately 32 in total.
- Roast the meatballs until they achieve a perfectly cooked interior, typically 15-20 minutes, developing rich golden exteriors.
- Transfer the succulent meatballs into a prepared casserole dish, creating a hearty foundation for the upcoming layers.
- Generously cascade marinara sauce across the meatball landscape, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Lavishly blanket the sauce-covered meatballs with a harmonious blend of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, creating a luxurious dairy canopy.
- Return the assembled dish to the oven, allowing the cheese to transform into a molten, golden-kissed topping through 10-15 minutes of uncovered baking.
- Optional: Elevate the visual appeal and flavor profile by scattering fresh basil or parsley across the finished masterpiece.
- Serve immediately while the cheese remains delightfully melted and the meatballs radiate warmth, accompanied by preferred side dishes or enjoyed as a standalone culinary delight.
Notes
- Select high-quality ground meat with a moderate fat content around 15-20% for juicier, more flavorful meatballs that won’t dry out during baking.
- Consider mixing meats like beef and pork for enhanced depth of flavor and improved texture in your meatballs.
- Avoid pressing or compacting meatballs too tightly when forming them to maintain a tender, light internal structure that prevents dense, tough results.
- Use fresh herbs like basil or parsley instead of dried for brighter, more vibrant flavor profiles that elevate the entire dish’s taste complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg