Description

Comfort food at its coziest—this Meatball Pasta Casserole brings together juicy meatballs, tender pasta, and a rich, smoky tomato sauce, all baked to bubbly perfection with melted mozzarella on top. Ready in under an hour and perfect for family dinners or easy meal prep!

Ingredients

Scale

2 tsp sunflower oil
340 g meatballs (homemade or store-bought)
1 onion, peeled and chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
300 g mushrooms, sliced
400 g canned chopped tomatoes
½ tsp chili flakes
2 tsp sweet smoked paprika
750 ml vegetable stock
4 tbsp tomato purée
250 g pasta (e.g., penne or fusilli)
150 g mozzarella, grated or sliced

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

Preheat & Prep: Preheat the oven to 200 °C (400 °F). Lightly grease a 20×20 cm (8×8‑inch) or similar baking dish.
Brown Meatballs: Heat sunflower oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs and cook until browned on all sides (about 5 minutes). Remove and set aside.
Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet, add onion and garlic, sautéing until soft and aromatic (about 3–4 minutes).
Cook Mushrooms: Add sliced mushrooms and cook until they release their juices and begin to soften (~5 minutes).
Build the Sauce: Stir in the chopped tomatoes, chili flakes, smoked paprika, tomato purée, and vegetable stock. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Simmer: Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5–7 minutes to thicken slightly.
Combine with Pasta: Stir in the pasta and browned meatballs. Ensure pasta is coated and partially submerged (it’ll continue cooking in the oven).
Assemble & Top: Transfer everything to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle mozzarella evenly on top.
Bake: Bake in the oven for 20–25 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden.
Rest & Serve: Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Substitutions: Use beef or vegetable stock depending on your preference; swap in cheddar for mozzarella if you like a sharper flavor

Make Ahead: Assemble the casserole, cover, and refrigerate up to a day ahead—just add 5 minutes to baking time when baking from cold.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Comfort / Western