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Cheesy Meatball Pasta Bake

A delicious and easy one-pan meal featuring frozen meatballs, marinara sauce, and gooey cheese, perfect for family comfort dinners.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 420
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main ingredients
  • 1 bag frozen meatballs, defrosted Use pre-cooked to skip browning.
  • 1 jar marinara or spaghetti sauce Use good marinara for better sauce depth.
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 box bowtie pasta Can be substituted with penne or rotini.
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1.5 cups mozzarella cheese Room-temp cheese melts quicker.
  • 0.25 cups Parmesan cheese, grated Use extra to thicken sauce if needed.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. In a high-sided oven-proof pot or skillet, add the defrosted meatballs and pour the jar of sauce over them. Stir gently.
  3. Add the water and scatter the bowtie pasta into the sauce; sprinkle the Italian seasoning. Stir once to combine.
Baking
  1. Cover the pot tightly with a lid or foil, and put it in the oven. Bake for 35 minutes.
  2. After 35 minutes, uncover, press the meatballs slightly into the sauce, then top evenly with mozzarella and Parmesan.
  3. Bake uncovered for another 10–15 minutes until the cheese bubbles and edges turn light golden.
  4. Let it sit for 10 minutes to set; sauce will thicken and pasta will absorb the juices.

Notes

Serve with a crisp green salad, crusty bread, or top with a fried egg for brunch. Can be stored in the fridge for 3–4 days or frozen for up to 2 months.