Dinners like this one are my very favorite.
For me, there is just nothing better than a big casserole and a salad on the side (with maybe a piece of crusty bread thrown in there too).
This is also the kind of recipe you can make on a regular old Tuesday night for your family or on a bigger occasion when you’re serving a crowd (because it would be easy to double!). To make things weeknight simple, I used a package of frozen chicken meatballs, but you could most certainly use homemade. Either way you do it, it will be delicious!
Enjoy!
This recipe serves about six.
Shopping List
1 (1 pound bag) of fully cooked frozen (or refrigerated!) Italian-style meatballs (either pork, turkey or chicken)
1 (pound box) of penne pasta (I used whole wheat)
2 (8 oz) cans of tomato sauce
1 (14 oz) can of diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
grated Parmesan cheese to garnish
chopped parsley to garnish
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Lightly spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Add all of your fully cooked and frozen (or refrigerated!) meatballs to the baking dish and spread them out. Set baking dish aside.
Bring a large pot of water up to a boil. Drop your pasta in and cook to al dente (about 7 to 8 minutes). Drain water from pasta once it’s cooked and reserve cooked pasta.
In a mixing bowl, stir together your tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Pour this tomato mixture down over your hot, cooked pasta and toss together.
Next, you assemble: Pour your pasta with the sauce down over your meatballs in the baking dish. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese down over everything and pop this in your preheated oven to bake about 18 to 20 minutes or until it’s bubbly and the edges brown up a little bit. (I tried this once with frozen and once with refrigerated meatballs and they baked up the same.)
Once your casserole is browned and bubbly, remove it from the oven and garnish with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and some chopped parsley.
Serve.
That’s it! So simple, so hearty and so darn good!
Susan Jeffries says
Your recipes have saved me from my reputation as the world’s worst cook! I have never really enjoyed cooking, but your recipes are simple, quick, and delicious. I have made one of your recipes every week for the past six weeks and my husband has loved them all! Our daughter is a vegetarian, so I plan to make this pasta in two pans – one without meatballs! Thanks for making my family happy at dinner time!
Narci says
Oh my goodness! This looks so delicious and easy! Trying this asap!
Lizzie @ This Happy Life says
I love these kinds of dishes too! They are always a huge hit with my family and make dinnertime so much more enjoyable 🙂
Stephanie says
I love baked pasta dishes, you just can’t beat it for any occasion. Plus, even though it’s just me and my fiancee at home, I’ll still make a big dish that could serve 100 so that we can take it for lunch throughout the rest of the week.
http://aneducationindomestication.com
Lindsay B says
I think my 2.5 year old will actually eat this. Trying this ASAP! Thanks for sharing!
Angie says
Do you use plain Tomato Sauce (like Hunts) or spaghetti sauce? Can you tell I don’t cook often, HA! But this recipe sounds delish!
Mix and Match Mama says
Like the Hunts!!
Kristyn says
Yum! You’ve taken me back to my childhood with this one. I remember having a dish like this growing up, and there was always a battle for the crispy pieces of penne poking out from the cheese. Will have to make this for my husband – and not tell him about the best crunchy bits so I can get to them first 😉
Aleeha says
Damn, this looks good! I definitely need to give this a go!
Aleeha xXx
http://www.halesaaw.com/
Monica says
Hi! What kind/brand of Italian seasoning do you use, or do you make your own?
Mix and Match Mama says
I buy a local one my market sells. I think any basic Italian seasoning will work though!
Sarah Manna says
Do recommend covering while baking or leaving uncovered?
Mix and Match Mama says
Uncovered! Enjoy 🙂
Kerrie says
Could you use a jar of spaghetti/marinara sauce instead of the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes? My family doesn’t like tomato “chunks”!
Mix and Match Mama says
Absolutely!
Beckie says
Oh wow this meal looks gorgeous. I so wanna try make this with my boyfriend.
Beckie xo // The Pale Tails
Melissa says
Could I make this ahead of time and put it in the fridge until it’s time to bake it?
Mix and Match Mama says
Absolutely!