Easy Weeknight Dump and Bake Meatball Ziti Casserole
Some recipes earn a permanent spot in the dinner rotation because they're impressive. Others stick around because they're simply dependable. This Dump and Bake Meatball Ziti Casserole manages to be both.
Ingredients
- 1 16-ounce package ziti pasta, uncooked
- 1 24-ounce jar marinara sauce
- 2 cups chicken broth or water
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 16-ounce bag frozen fully cooked Italian-style meatballs
- 8 slices fresh mozzarella
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F.
- Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Pour in the marinara sauce and chicken broth, then sprinkle with the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together until the pasta is evenly coated.
- Add the uncooked ziti directly to the baking dish.
- Nestle the frozen meatballs throughout the pasta mixture, gently pressing them down so they're partially submerged in the sauce.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. This step is important because it traps the steam that cooks the pasta.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Carefully remove the foil and give everything a gentle stir. Most of the liquid should be absorbed and the pasta should be nearly tender.
- Arrange the fresh mozzarella slices on top.
- Return the casserole to the oven uncovered and broil on high for about 5-7 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let the casserole rest for about 10 minutes before serving. This helps the sauce thicken slightly and makes serving much easier.
- Finish with fresh basil.
Notes
Use fully cooked frozen meatballs straight from the freezer. There's no need to thaw them first.
If your pasta still feels slightly firm after the initial bake, simply cover it again with foil and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes. Oven temperatures and pasta brands can vary slightly.
For an extra cheesy casserole, stir one cup of shredded mozzarella into the pasta before baking and use the remaining cheese on top.