Indulge in a culinary journey with our enticing baked pasta and meatballs, a delightful dish that combines the comforting flavors of pasta, tender meatballs, and a rich, flavorful sauce. This classic Italian-American casserole is a symphony of textures and tastes, sure to tantalize your palate. Discover the secrets behind crafting the perfect meatballs, simmering the savory sauce, and assembling the dish into a cohesive masterpiece. Learn how to select the ideal pasta for this recipe, and explore variations such as using different types of meat or adding vegetables to the sauce. With step-by-step instructions and helpful tips, this comprehensive guide will empower you to create a restaurant-quality baked pasta and meatballs that will impress your family and friends alike.
Let's cook with our recipes!
BAKED ZITI WITH MEATBALLS
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories appetizer
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, eggs, milk, 1/2 cup of the Romano and the parsley, and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Add beef and gently combine, being careful not to overwork the meat. Shape into bite-size meatballs. Roll each meatball in flour to coat, shaking off excess.
- In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain pasta in a colander and set aside. If not using immediately, cover top with plastic wrap so that pasta does not dry out. Do not rinse pasta with water since you want to retain the pasta's natural starches so that the sauce will cling to the ziti.
- In a large skillet heat the oil over medium-high heat. When almost smoking, add meatballs in batches and without moving or turning the meat, allow it to brown for about 3 minutes. Turn meatballs and brown other side. Continue to cook until all sides are golden brown. Remove meatballs to a plate.
- In a large bowl, combine the tomato sauce and ricotta and mix well. Add the cooked ziti and meatballs and toss gently.
- In a large greased baking dish, pour in pasta mixture. Sprinkle the mozzarella, Parmesan, and remaining Romano all over the top. Dot with the butter. Place baking dish on top of baking sheet covered with aluminum foil to collect any drippings from the dish. Bake until top is golden brown and bubbly, about 30 to 40 minutes.
CHEESY MEATBALL BAKED PASTA
Fusilli pasta baked with tomato sauce, meatballs and a trio of cheeses: mozzarella, Parmesan and ricotta.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 1h25m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to broil on high. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with foil and coat lightly with oil.
- Put the breadcrumbs in a large mixing bowl and pour the milk over the top. Stir to combine and let stand 5 minutes. Add the beef, pork, Parmesan, oregano, garlic, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and mix to combine with your hands. Add the egg and mix well to incorporate. Roll the mixture into 1 inch balls, arranging them in the prepared baking dish.
- Broil the meatballs about 3 inches from the element until browned on top, about 4 minutes. Turn the meatballs over and continue to broil until golden brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes more.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic is golden, about 2 minutes. Add both cans of tomatoes and 1 cup of water. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer rapidly, uncovered, until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Meanwhile, cook the fusilli in the salted boiling water until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain the pasta and transfer to a large bowl.
- Add the tomato sauce, meatballs and half of the mozzarella and Parmesan to the bowl and stir well to combine. Transfer the pasta to a 3- to 4-quart baking dish. Dollop the ricotta by spoonfuls onto the pasta. Top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake, uncovered, until browned, about 15 minutes. Let the pasta stand about 10 minutes before serving.
BAKED MEATBALL AND PASTA CASSEROLE
This is one of those super easy delicious weeknight meals. The pasta actually is cooked in the oven to add flavor. You can use homemade meatballs or precooked frozen meatballs. Yummy!
Provided by MCsOnTheSquare
Categories Weeknight
Time 55m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 Degrees and Grease a 3 Quart Casserole Dish.
- Melt the 1 TBSP Butter over medium heat and add the green bell pepper and onion. Cook until tender, approximately 5 minutes.
- Pour the jar of pasta sauce, the 2 cups of water, the package of frozen meatballs, the 2 1/2 cups of uncooked macaroni, 1 TSP Italian Seasoning directly into the casserole dish. Add the onion and green pepper. Stir all ingredients until combined.
- Bake covered for 45 minutes at 375 Degrees. Remove from oven after the 45 minutes is up and sprinkle the 2 Cups of Mozzarella and 1/4 Cup of Parmesan Cheese over the top. Place back in the oven uncovered and broil on high for around 3 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly.
- This will make 4 Huge Servings or 6 Normal Servings. Freezes Well!
- Enjoy and always let you kitchen be your favorite restaurant!
EASY PASTA BAKE WITH MOSTACCIOLI AND MEATBALLS
This is an incredibly easy dish to prepare for a potluck dinner or a football party, or just for your family at home. It's easy on the wallet too, because it has few ingredients! Great when served with garlic bread.
Provided by VIOLET2004
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta
Time 40m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add mostaccioli and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain.
- Transfer mostaccioli to a large glass baking dish. The pasta should reach about halfway to the rim of the dish. Cover with as much spaghetti sauce as you like, at least enough to almost cover the pasta.
- Place meatballs in a microwave-save dish and heat in the microwave for about 3 minutes. Spread out on top of the pasta. Cover entirely with mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven until heated through and cheese is completely melted, 15 to 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 633.8 calories, Carbohydrate 81.3 g, Cholesterol 73.4 mg, Fat 19.3 g, Fiber 5.9 g, Protein 34 g, SaturatedFat 8.8 g, Sodium 853.8 mg, Sugar 13.2 g
MEATBALL PASTA BAKE
This easy-to-make baked meatball pasta bake is better than lasagna!
Provided by Karla Harmer
Categories Noodle Casserole
Time 1h
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes less than the package instructions, about 8 minutes. Drain pasta.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 13x9 inch baking dish.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook meatballs until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add marinara sauce and ricotta cheese; mix to combine. Add cooked pasta and mix to combine. Season with Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
- Cover the bottom of the prepared baking dish with a layer of sauce without meatballs. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella cheese on top. Add another layer of sauce with meatballs on top and sprinkle with 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese. Add another layer of 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Add the rest of the sauce and meatball mixture on top, followed by remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil.
- Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake until cheese starts to turn golden brown, 10 to 20 minutes. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 701.4 calories, Carbohydrate 76.6 g, Cholesterol 107.6 mg, Fat 25.7 g, Fiber 7.4 g, Protein 38.1 g, SaturatedFat 10.9 g, Sodium 1276.8 mg
MEATBALL PASTA BAKE (PASTA AL FORNO)
Make a comforting meatball pasta bake to feed the family. Inspired by Italian flavours and made with wholewheat pasta, it's a fabulous, filling meal
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Dinner, Main course, Pasta, Supper
Time 1h
Yield Serves 4-6
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Mix the grated onion, 1 crushed garlic clove, mince, breadcrumbs, milk, parmesan and parsley in a large bowl. Season well with salt and pepper. Mash the mixture together with your hands until combined. Mould the mix into small balls (about walnut-sized) with damp hands. There will be about 20 meatballs.
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a deep frying pan and fry the meatballs for 6-8 mins until golden brown all over. Fry in batches if you need to - they don't need to be cooked through, just browned on the outside. Set aside on a plate.
- Heat the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in the pan and fry the chopped onion for 5 mins until softened. Add the remaining garlic, fry for another minute, then add the chopped tomatoes and simmer for 10 mins until thickened and the tomatoes have broken down. Season well with salt and pepper.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta for 5 mins less than the pack instructions state, in boiling salted water. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
- Stir the meatballs into the tomato sauce, adding a splash of water if too thick, and bring to a simmer. Drain the pasta and tip into an ovenproof dish. Pour over the sauce and meatballs and mix well. Stir in most of the mozzarella, then scatter the remaining over the top. Bake for 15-20 mins until the cheese is golden and bubbling, and the top is slightly crisp.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 606 calories, Fat 28 grams fat, SaturatedFat 12 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 52 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 10 grams sugar, Fiber 8 grams fiber, Protein 33 grams protein, Sodium 0.7 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients whenever possible. Fresh meatballs, pasta, and sauce will make a big difference in the flavor of your dish.
- Season your meatballs well. A good combination of herbs and spices will add a lot of flavor to your meatballs. Use a variety of fresh chopped herbs, such as basil, oregano, and thyme. If you are using dried herbs, use about half the amount of dried herbs as you would fresh.
- Don't overcook your meatballs. Overcooked meatballs will be tough and dry. Cook them just until they are cooked through, about 15-20 minutes.
- Use a flavorful sauce. A good marinara sauce is a classic choice, but you can also use a creamy Alfredo sauce or a pesto sauce. Be sure to simmer your sauce for a while so that the flavors have a chance to meld together.
- Cook your pasta al dente. Al dente pasta is cooked just until it is tender, but still has a slight bite to it. This will help prevent the pasta from becoming mushy when you bake it.
- Use a baking dish that is large enough to hold all of the ingredients. A 9x13 inch baking dish is a good size. If you use a smaller baking dish, the pasta and meatballs will be too crowded and will not cook evenly.
- Bake the pasta and meatballs until the cheese is melted and bubbly. This will take about 20-25 minutes. If you are using a glass baking dish, you may need to bake it for a few minutes longer.
Conclusion:
Baked pasta and meatballs is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is also a great dish to make ahead of time and reheat for lunch or dinner. By following these tips, you can make baked pasta and meatballs that is sure to please everyone at your table.
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