Recipe Background
Take your favorite Italian comfort dish and turn it into a tasty, cheesy casserole. Baked Spaghetti and Meatball Casserole has spaghetti mixed with fresh marinara sauce, melty mozzarella cheese, tender beef-and-pork meatballs, and topped with sharp parmesan cheese. Spaghetti and Meatball Casserole is baked until golden and bubbly, and it will leave you feeling full and happy! You can even call it happiness in casserole form!
Take your favorite Italian comfort dish and turn it into a tasty, cheesy casserole. Baked Spaghetti and Meatball Casserole has spaghetti mixed with fresh marinara sauce, melty mozzarella cheese, tender beef-and-pork meatballs, and topped with sharp parmesan cheese. Spaghetti and Meatball Casserole is baked until golden and bubbly, and it will leave you feeling full and happy! You can even call it happiness in casserole form!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces ground beef
- 8 ounces ground pork
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- nutmeg to taste
- kosher salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 ounces spaghetti
- 3 cups marinara sauce homemade or store-bought
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves chopped
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Lightly oil a 9×9-inch baking dish or coat with nonstick spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the beef, pork, egg, panko bread crumbs, parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, allspice, and nutmeg.
- Season the meat mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
- Using a wooden spoon or clean hands, mix all ingredients until fully incorporated, careful not to overwork it.
- Roll the mixture into 1 1/4-to-1 1/2-inch meatballs, forming about 18-20 meatballs.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet, Dutch oven, or frying pan over medium heat.
- Add the meatballs, in batches, to the hot oil and cook until all sides are browned, about 2-3 minutes.
- Transfer the meatballs to a paper towel-lined plate and set them aside.
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the spaghetti according to package instructions.
- Drain the pasta well and stir in the marinara sauce.
- Add the pasta to the prepared baking dish.
- Top with the meatballs.
- Sprinkle the casserole with the mozzarella.
- Bake until bubbly and heated through, about 15-20 minutes.
- Serve immediately, garnished with the parsley.
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