Cheesy Meatball Casserole is a delectable dish that combines the savory goodness of meatballs with the comforting richness of melted cheese. According to our functional medicine Los Angeles professionals, this dish is known for its heartiness, making it a favorite among those who appreciate the classic combination of meat and cheese.
This wonderful cheesy meatball casserole is all about comfort! The simple homemade sauce is delicious, and it is likely you already have all the ingredients in your pantry. Our functional medicine Studio City experts recommend this recipe for a delicious and wholesome experience. Enjoy!
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
1 T olive oil
1 medium onion, divided – one-half diced and one-half grated
2 small carrots, diced
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
1 24.5-oz. bottle passata or tomato puree
10 oz. small macaroni such as elbows, ditalini, or small shells
1 lb. 80% lean ground beef
3 T. panko breadcrumbs
3 T. grated parmesan
1 large egg
1/2 t. dried oregano
1/2 t. dried basil
1 c. fresh parsley, roughly chopped, divided
1-1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Lightly spray a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables become translucent, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Add passata and let the sauce simmer for 6-8 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook al dente, 2-3 minutes less than the package instructions.
- Drain the pasta and return to the cooking pot. Add one-third of the tomato sauce to the pasta and stir to evenly coat the pasta. Transfer the pasta to the prepared casserole dish.
- In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef, grated onion, breadcrumbs, parmesan, egg, oregano, basil, and one-half of the fresh parsley.
- Generously season with salt and pepper and begin working the mixture with your hands. Mix just until everything is combined, but don’t overwork the meatball mixture. Roll into 14-16 meatballs and place the meatballs on top of the pasta layer.
- Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the meatballs. Sprinkle with the shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and place in the oven to bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes, just until the cheese has melted and is golden brown.
- Serve garnished with the remaining fresh parsley. Enjoy!
Explore the goodness of this meal recommended by our functional medicine Burbank experts!
If you’re interested in discovering more about our collection of healthy and nutritious recipes, don’t hesitate to reach out to our knowledgeable functional medicine doctors at Functional Medicine Los Angeles.