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Meatball Pasta Bake

Irresistible 30-Minute Meatball Pasta Bake for Comfort

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A hearty and cheesy meatball pasta bake that combines ziti pasta, meatballs, marinara sauce, and three types of cheese for a comforting meal.

  • Total Time: 65 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (16 ounce) package ziti pasta
  • 1 ½ pounds frozen cooked meatballs, thawed
  • 2 (28 ounce) jars prepared marinara sauce
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • ⅔ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Instructions

  1. 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.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 13×9 inch baking dish.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, 20 to 30 minutes.
  6. Remove foil and bake until cheese starts to turn golden brown, 10 to 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Notes

  • You can use fresh or frozen meatballs, but thaw them first.
  • Undercook the pasta slightly to prevent it from becoming mushy during baking.
  • Let the dish rest for 5-10 minutes before serving for easier slicing.
  • Author: Livia Reed
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 50 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Low Lactose

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 520
  • Sugar: 8g
  • Sodium: 980mg
  • Fat: 22g
  • Saturated Fat: 10g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 52g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 28g
  • Cholesterol: 75mg