Why You’ll Love This Dump and Bake Casserole

One Dish, No Mess – No need to dirty a sink full of pots and pans. Everything bakes together in one dish.

Frozen Meatballs for the Win – Skip the prep and toss in frozen meatballs—delicious and effortless.

Pasta Bakes While Cooking – No need to pre-cook the pasta. It cooks right in the marinara sauce!

Perfect for Meal Prep – Make ahead, refrigerate, and bake when ready. Leftovers reheat beautifully.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Frozen Meatballs – Use homestyle or Italian-style meatballs straight from the freezer—no thawing needed.

Uncooked Pasta – Short pasta like penne or rotini works best; it cooks directly in the sauce.

Marinara Sauce – A jar of your favorite store-bought or homemade marinara creates the flavorful base.

Water or Broth – Helps cook the pasta and blend flavors.

Italian Seasoning – Adds that perfect herby touch.

Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – Melts beautifully into gooey, cheesy goodness.

Parmesan Cheese – Adds extra richness and flavor on top.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Preheat and Prep

Preheat your oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Step 2: Dump the Ingredients

In the baking dish, combine the uncooked pasta, frozen meatballs, marinara sauce, water or broth, and Italian seasoning. Stir to combine.

Step 3: Cover and Bake

Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 35–40 minutes until the pasta is tender.

Step 4: Add the Cheese

Remove the foil, sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese generously over the top, and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes until bubbly and golden.

Step 5: Let It Rest

Allow to sit for 5–10 minutes before serving—this helps everything thicken up for the perfect scoop!