Ultimate Baked Meatball and Macaroni Casserole
Cheesy, saucy, and packed with tender meatballs and perfectly cooked macaroni — this hearty casserole is pure comfort food and perfect for family dinners.
🛒 Ingredients
🥩 For the Meatballs
1 lb (450 g) ground beef
½ cup breadcrumbs
1 large egg
¼ cup milk
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
(Shortcut: You can use 1 lb frozen cooked meatballs instead.)
🍝 For the Casserole
12 oz (340 g) elbow macaroni
2½ cups marinara sauce
1 cup beef broth (or water)
1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
1 tablespoon olive oil
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Make the Meatballs
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
In a bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, Parmesan, garlic, seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Mix gently and form into 1-inch meatballs.
Place on lined baking sheet and bake 15–18 minutes until cooked through.
(If using frozen meatballs, heat according to package.)
Reduce oven to 375°F (190°C) for casserole.
2️⃣ Cook the Pasta
Boil macaroni in salted water until just al dente (about 1 minute less than package instructions).
Drain and toss lightly with olive oil.
3️⃣ Assemble the Casserole
In a large bowl, mix cooked macaroni, marinara sauce, beef broth, oregano, and half of the mozzarella and cheddar.
Spread half into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
Arrange meatballs evenly over pasta.
Top with remaining pasta mixture.
Sprinkle remaining mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan on top.
4️⃣ Bake
Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes.
Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving.
🍽️ Serving Ideas
Garlic bread
Caesar salad
Steamed broccoli
Ultimate Baked Meatball and Macaroni Casserole
