Easy and Delicious Meatball Bake Recipe

If you’re craving comfort food that’s hearty, cheesy, and impossibly delicious, then this meatball bake is about to become your new obsession. Imagine tender meatballs smothered in rich marinara sauce, layered with gooey melted cheese, and baked to bubbly perfection. Intrigued? Keep reading to discover how this easy, crowd-pleasing dish can transform your dinner routine!

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound ground pork
• 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 cups marinara sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Equipment

• Large mixing bowl
• Baking sheet
• Large skillet
• 9 x 13 inch baking dish
• Spatula or tongs
• Measuring cups and spoons

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with olive oil and set it aside. This will help prevent sticking and make cleanup easier later.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, Italian-style breadcrumbs, eggs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried herbs, and fresh parsley. Mix everything together using your hands or a spoon until everything is incorporated, but do not overmix. Overmixing can make the meatballs tough.
3. Step 3: Roll the mixture into golf ball sized rounds and place them on a baking sheet. You should get roughly 20 to 24 meatballs, depending on how generous you are. If your hands get sticky, dampen them with a little water to make rolling smoother.
4. Step 4: In a large skillet, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Gently add the meatballs and sear them until browned on all sides, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Do not worry if they are not cooked through — they will finish cooking in the oven.
5. Step 5: Spread one cup of marinara sauce in the bottom of the prepared dish. Nestle the browned meatballs into the sauce in a snug single layer. They will soak up all that flavor as they bake.
6. Step 6: Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the top. Try to coat every meatball. Then sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over everything. The cheese will help the tops brown beautifully and add that nutty depth.
7. Step 7: Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. This will allow the meatballs to finish cooking and infuse beautifully with the sauce.
8. Step 8: Remove the foil. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the top and return the dish to the oven for another 10 minutes, uncovered. Bake until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbling.
9. Step 9: Once baked, let the meatball bake sit for 5 to 10 minutes to settle. This resting time lets everything thicken up slightly, so your servings come out neat and saucy. Garnish with extra parsley for a fresh touch.

Nutrition per serving

For extra flavor, use freshly grated Parmesan and do not skip the lemon zest. Leftovers keep well for 2 days in the fridge.

FAQ

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Cheesy Meatball Bake

A warm, bubbly meatball bake featuring juicy homemade meatballs in rich tomato sauce, layered with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, baked to golden perfection. The ultimate Italian-American comfort food casserole—easy, satisfying, and a hit at any table.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine Italian American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 540 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound ground pork
• 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 cups marinara sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with olive oil and set aside.
• In a large bowl, mix ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, eggs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian herbs, and chopped parsley until well combined but not overmixed.
• Roll mixture into golf ball sized meatballs (about 20–24). Place on a baking sheet.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, lightly sear meatballs on all sides until browned. No need to cook through.
• Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce in bottom of prepared baking dish. Nestle browned meatballs in a single layer over the sauce.
• Pour remaining marinara sauce over meatballs, then sprinkle with grated Parmesan.
• Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
• Remove foil, sprinkle with mozzarella, and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
• Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra parsley, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 540kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 34gFat: 36gSodium: 960mgFiber: 2g

Keyword meatball bake, casserole, comfort food, Italian-American, family meal, easy dinner

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