How long should you cook meatballs in the oven at 400 degrees?

A good rule of thumb is to bake meatballs for 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees fahrenheit. Every oven is different so the cooking time will not be the same for everyone. You will know the meatballs are ready when the internal temperature of the meatballs is 165 degrees.

Can you put frozen meatballs in the oven?

Yes, you can absolutely cook raw frozen meatballs in the oven . This method is convenient and allows for even cooking and a crispy exterior.

How long to bake 2 inch meatballs?

Basic Cook Times for Meatballs in the Wall Oven 350°F wall oven: 8–14 minutes for 1-inch meatballs. 14–18 minutes for 2-inch meatballs. 400°F wall oven: 6–10 minutes for 1-inch meatballs. 10–14 minutes for 2-inch meatballs. 425°F wall oven: 5-8 minutes for 1-inch meatballs. More items... Aug 16, 2023

Do you cover meatballs when baking?

Covering them with foil can help when reheating, but you will still want to remove it during the last few minutes of cook time in the oven. How do you keep meatballs moist when baking? The key is in the preparation! Make sure to handle the meat mixture as little as possible and mix the ingredients just until combined.

Is it better to bake meatballs in the oven or pan?

Baking will result in meatballs with a crunchy exterior, though the caramelisation achieved from frying will be superior . Baked meatballs take the least amount of effort, as you'll only need to turn them once or twice throughout the cook and you can make a larger batch at once.

Can you thaw frozen meatballs before you cook them?

Refrigerator thawing also ensures food safety, as it prevents the growth of harmful bacteria. The only downside to using the refrigerator to defrost meatballs is how long it takes. You'll need at least 12 hours for the meat to thaw, so it's best to place meatballs into the fridge the day before .

How to make store-bought meatballs taste better?

I don't have a very adventurous palate, so my go-to choices are usually mild, like onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, parsley and basil . Some of my friends use cumin, ginger, curry or other types of spices. Another thing I do with mashed meat is add a few fresh ingredients.

Can I put frozen meatballs in sauce?

Absolutely! You can cook raw frozen meatballs in sauce on the stovetop . Simply add the frozen meatballs to a saucepan or skillet, pour your desired sauce over them, cover, and simmer on low to medium heat until the meatballs are cooked through. Stir occasionally to ensure they cook evenly.

How do you know when baked meatballs are done?

An instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the meatball should read at least 165 degrees F .

Why did my meatballs fall apart in the oven?

Because meat shrinks when cooked, mince proteins are likely to separate and crumble unless bound together . Whether it's breadcrumbs or egg (or both), or simply salt, binding the mince is a crucial step in maintaining the softness of your meatballs while preventing them from falling apart.

What temperature should meatballs be cooked at?

Use an instant read thermometer to confirm meatballs are fully cooked. ( 160° F internal temperature)

How long do you cook cooked perfect meatballs?

For all sizes of Cooked Perfect ® Meatballs, preheat oven to 350° F. Place frozen meatballs in a single layer on a baking tray. Heat for 15 to 25 minutes or until hot.

What temperature do you heat meatballs?

If you don't plan to serve the meatballs with sauce or gravy, reheat them in the oven at 300°F . Place the meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet or in a baking dish, then cover them with foil to prevent drying, and heat until warmed through.

Easy Cheesy Baked Meatball Casserole Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

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Baked Meatball Casserole – You’ll love how easy it is to make this dump-and-bake casserole recipe with frozen meatballs, your favorite jarred pasta, and lots of melty cheese. It’s perfect to prep ahead and feed a hungry crowd in under an hour!

Easy Cheesy Baked Meatball Casserole Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (1)

Why We Love This Casserole Recipe

What family can resist a yummy, bubbly, gooey, cheesy casserole? We sure can’t! And this Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole recipe has shot to the top of our list of favorites… It’s a simple, yet hearty and super kid-friendly, dinner you can serve any night of the week!

With basic ingredients like a box of pasta, a large jar of good-quality marinara, a package of frozen meatballs, a block of cream cheese, and a bag of shredded mozzarella, you can make an amazingly delicious dinner no one will turn down. Bonus: Leftovers are delish and great for lunch meal prepping.

From start to finish, the casserole is ready to serve in only 1 hour – but you can even prep or fully make it ahead and freeze for later. Either way, this easy crowd-pleasing favorite will make it to the top of your weekly meal plan rotation immediately!

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Ingredients You Need

Dried pasta – like rigatoni, penne, ziti, or fusilli
Jarred pasta sauce – marinara, or whatever flavor you prefer
Water
Frozen meatballs – full-size or mini meatballs
Spices – Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper (optional), salt
Cream cheese – full fat or light
Mozzarella cheese – shredded
Chopped parsley – to garnish

Pro Tip: It’s important to remember that the flavor coming from such simple store-bought ingredients means those ingredients need to be good quality. Make sure to buy high-quality marinara for this recipe, as well as better frozen meatballs if you can find them. This will make a big difference in the overall taste and texture of the casserole. You can also experiment with different styles of jarred pasta sauces like vodka sauce, Arrabbiata sauce, or spicy Diablo sauce.

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How to Make Dump-and-Bake Meatball Casserole

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Set out a large 9 x 13-inch baking dish.

In the baking dish, combine the dried pasta, marinara, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, and salt.

Easy Cheesy Baked Meatball Casserole Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (4)

Then pour the water over the top and gently stir to combine the ingredients.

Arrange the frozen meatballs over the top of the pasta.

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Then cut the cream cheese block into small chunks and arrange the cream cheese pieces over the top of the pasta as well.

Get the Complete (Printable) Easy Meatball Casserole Recipe Below. Enjoy!

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Cover the top of the pan tightly with foil. Place in the center of the oven and bake for 35 minutes.

Once the timer goes off, remove the pan from the oven. Sprinkle the top of the pasta and meatballs with shredded mozzarella cheese.

Easy Cheesy Baked Meatball Casserole Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (7)

Lower the oven temperature to 400°F. Then place the pan back in the oven, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly around the edges.

Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and serve warm.

Easy Cheesy Baked Meatball Casserole Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (8)

Make Ahead Tips

This is a wonderful recipe to prep ahead and bake later in the week. You can even make it in foil freezer pans and freeze it for later use!

If prepping ahead to bake later in the week, combine all the ingredients, reserving the water to add right before baking. Cover with foil and keep in the fridge until ready to bake.

If planning to freeze, combine all ingredients including the water. Wrap tightly with aluminum foil and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before baking.

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Serving Suggestions

I highly suggest serving this classic Italian-style meatballs casserole with a refreshing salad and crusty garlic bread.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you thaw frozen meatballs before cooking?

Nope! You do not need to thaw the meatballs before adding them to the casserole dish.

Should I sear meatballs before baking?

No, it’s not necessary to cook the meatballs first.

How long do leftovers last?

Cool any leftovers, then transfer them to an airtight container. The casserole will keep well in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Can you freeze meatball casserole?

Yes, this dump and bake casserole recipe is wonderful to freeze! Cooled leftovers should be stored in an airtight freezer-safe container, and kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Check out the recipe card below for full steps to make ahead and freeze the entire casserole.

Easy Cheesy Baked Meatball Casserole Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (11)

Looking for More Casserole Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel
King Ranch Chicken Casserole
One-Pot Chicken Noodle Casserole
Cheesy Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake
Supreme Pizza Baked Ziti

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Easy Baked Meatball Casserole Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

You'll love how easy it is to make this dump and bake casserole recipe with frozen meatballs, your favorite jarred pasta, and lots of melty cheese. It's perfect to feed a hungry crowd in under 1 hour!

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

16 ounces dried rigatoni penne, ziti, or fusilli
32 ounces marinara
2 ½ cups water
13-14 ounces frozen meatballs or mini meatballs
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
¼ – ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper optional
½ teaspoon salt
8 ounces cream cheese
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella
Garnish: chopped parsley

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Set out a large 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
In the baking dish, combine the dried pasta, marinara, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, and salt. Then pour the water over the top and gently stir to combine the ingredients.
Arrange the frozen meatballs over the top of the pasta. Then cut the cream cheese block into small chunks and arrange the cream cheese pieces over the top of the pasta as well.
Cover the top of the pan tightly with foil. Place in the center of the oven and bake for 35 minutes.
Once the timer goes off, remove the pan from the oven. Sprinkle the top of the pasta and meatballs with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Lower the oven temperature to 400°F. Then place the pan back in the oven, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly around the edges. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and serve warm.

Notes

Ingredients Notes: it’s important to remember that the flavor coming from such simple store-bought ingredients means those ingredients need to be good quality. Make sure to buy high-quality marinara for this recipe, as well as better frozen meatballs if you can find them. This will make a big difference in the overall taste and texture of the casserole. You can also experiment with different styles of jarred pasta sauces like vodka sauce, Arrabbiata sauce, or spicy Diablo sauce.

Meal Prep Notes: This is a wonderful recipe to prep ahead and bake later in the week. You can even make it in foil freezer pans and freeze it for later use! If prepping ahead to bake later in the week, combine all the ingredients, reserving the water to add right before baking. If planning to freeze, combine all ingredients including the water.

Leftovers: Cool any leftovers, then transfer to an airtight container. The casserole will keep well in the fridge for up to 5 days, and up to 3 months in the freezer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.25cup, Calories: 481kcal, Carbohydrates: 52g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 65mg, Sodium: 950mg, Potassium: 691mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 822IU, Vitamin C: 8mg, Calcium: 195mg, Iron: 3mg

Course: Main, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Author: Brittany Ervin

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