Meatball Dump Casserole

         The name of this casserole brings a smile to my face. The thought of just dumping things together and calling it a meal is something my mother used to do when I was growing up. We lived on a farm and harvest was a busy time. Not only did we have the big fields, we had three separate gardens, they all needed to be harvested. This led to some late evenings. Mom would go in half an hour earlier than we did and she would throw things together and call it a meal. So many times, those ended up being some highly requested foods again and again.

            I changed this up enough to make it even easier, more economical and tastier. For this dish, you do not even have to cook the pasta ahead of time. It will cook in the sauce. Giving even the pasta a flavorful taste. Within an hour you will have a fabulous meal with very little effort.

            Italian meals, especially anything with spaghetti sauce or marinara is a hit at my house. My kids would eat what I call red sauce every day if I allowed it. This is a family friendly meal that everyone loves.

It qualifies as nutritious, is economical but better than all that, it is DELICIOUS! It is time for you to take a break and enjoy a meal that is thrown together and called a meal, just like my mother did years ago. This meal is one that I am sure has somehow been passed around from her.

Frequently Asked Questions:

            Can I make this ahead of time?

You could make it a few hours in advance, but I would not go any longer than that.

            How do I store this dish?

When the casserole is completely cooled off, put it into an airtight container and into the refrigerator. It will be good for 4 to 5 days.

            What should I serve with this dish?

We generally have a dinner salad, caesar salad, roasted or steamed vegetables or just a toasty loaf of french bread.

            Can I swap out the meat for another variety?

If you choose to not use the frozen meatballs, feel free to make your own version using ground beef, turkey or pork. Even chicken would taste good in this dish.

            Can I use different pasta?

You most certainly can! Rotini, elbow macaroni or any type of pasta you want to use will work.

What do you need to make Meatball Dump Casserole

            16 ounces frozen meatballs, thawed

            1 tsp Italian Seasoning

            8 ounces uncooked Bowtie Pasta

            1 jar of spaghetti sauce or marinara3 cups of water

            1 ½ cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded

            ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

How to make Meatball Dump Casserole

FIRST STEP:

Preheat your oven to 400*

Add the meatballs, jar of spaghetti sauce, water, Italian Seasoning and the uncooked pasta into a large dutch oven

a)

b)

c)

SECOND STEP:

Stir to combine all ingredients

a)

b)

THIRD STEP:

Bake for 35 minutes, covered tightly

Remove from the oven and uncover

Sprinkle the cheeses over the top of the casserole

FOURTH STEP:

Bake for an additional 15 minutes

Allow to sit on the stovetop for 10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

YUM!