Pioneer Woman’s Meatball Casserole is the perfect weekday comfort dinner, as it just takes 30 minutes to bake and has flavorful, juicy meatballs blanketed in marinara sauce and melting cheese.

Pioneer Woman Meatball Casserole Ingredients

• Marinara Sauce. I have a simple marinara sauce. I make it from scratch, but if you’d rather save some time, feel free to use a sauce that you got from the store instead.
• Ground Beef. Even if you choose ground beef that is 80% lean, you will still have enough flavor and fat to make meatballs that are juicy and tasty. In order to achieve meatballs with more moisture, you might try replacing one-half of the ground beef with ground pork.
• Egg. Assists in holding all of the ingredients together to prevent the meatballs from coming apart as they are being cooked.
• Breadcrumbs. When breadcrumbs are added to a meat combination, it assists in absorbing any extra moisture that may be present. Additionally, this will serve to bind the meatballs together, working in tandem with the egg to ensure that they remain nice and intact.
• Parmesan Cheese. The meatballs include a strong, sharp cheese flavor, which contributes to the delicious taste and offers a little bit of extra salty spice to the dish.
• Seasoning. The onion has been diced, garlic has been minced, salt, pepper, and an optional addition of chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley.
• Mozzarella. If you have the time and ability, shred your own cheese from a block to get a meltier, gooier texture and a more authentic flavor.

How To Make Pioneer Woman Meatball Casserole

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In a 9×13-inch baking dish, pour about 1/2 cup of marinara sauce.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the meat, egg, breadcrumbs, cheese, salt, garlic, onion, black pepper, and parsley. Stir only until mixed, being careful not to overmix. As required, add a Tablespoon or two of water to keep the mixture moist.
• Scoop the meat with a big cookie scoop or spoon. Then roll the dough into 2″ balls and set in the baking tray.
• Pour the rest of the sauce over the meatballs. Garnish with cheese.
• Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, or until the center is no longer pink. Remove the cover and simmer for another 5 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling. Serve the meatballs alone or over spaghetti noodles. Garnish with fresh parsley.

How Do You Know When The Meatballs Are Done?

You’ll be able to tell whether your meatballs are done when they are no longer pink in the center. This is why it’s so vital to make sure you maintain them the same size. That way, if you check one, you’ll know all the others are complete as well.

What To Serve With Meatball Casserole?

What a time-saver this dish will be! After baking, it may be eaten as-is with a side salad and some bread, on a bed of pasta, or stuffed into a bun for a quick and easy meal.

Some of our favorite ways to serve this meatball casserole are described below.

• Pasta. Low-carbohydrate alternatives to traditional noodle dishes include penne, rotini, spaghetti, and even zucchini noodles.
• Sandwiches. Sandwiches or sliders stuffed with meatballs
• Side Salad. Salads with homemade Olive Garden dressing and a Caprese pasta salad
• Bread. Quick and simple bread recipes, such as garlic bread, breadsticks, and garlic parmesan knots.

Variations & Substitutions

• Make the recipe using 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder in place of the fresh garlic and onions.
• You may use dried parsley as an alternative to fresh parsley if you don’t have any fresh on hand.
• The use of Italian seasoning is yet another mouthwatering tip.
• If you are serving guests who do not enjoy parsley, you have the option of omitting it from the dish or substituting it with another fresh herb.
• You have the option of using all beef for the meat ratio, or you could use a half pound each of ground beef and pork instead. In my opinion, it contributes to the provision of moisture and flavor.
• A great way to reduce the amount of fat and make leaner meatballs is to use a mixture of ground beef and ground turkey in the same proportions as the beef.
• With regard to smaller meatballs, this meatball casserole may be made with either turkey or chicken meatballs, and it will still turn out delicious.
• If you don’t have any marinara on hand, you can substitute any tomato or spaghetti sauce of your own instead.

How To Store Meatball Casserole?

• In The Fridge. It is recommended to store any leftover meatball casserole in the refrigerator for up to four days. Be careful to store them in a container that will prevent air from getting in.
• In The Freezer. After ensuring that the meatball casserole has reached room temperature, you can then transfer it to a container that will keep the air out and freeze it for up to two months.
• To Make Ahead. Follow the instructions for preparing and assembling the meatball casserole. Once they have been allowed to totally cool, cover the freezer-safe pan with as many layers of foil as possible and store it in the freezer for up to three months. This will prevent freezer burn.
• To Reheat. Cook the meatballs and sauce together in a skillet over low heat for as long as it takes for the meatballs to reach the desired temperature. The amount of time needed to cook the meatballs is proportional to the total number. If you only have a few, it should only take approximately 10 minutes; however, the longer the cooking time will be the more meatballs you have.

Recipe Tips

• Arrange the meatballs on a single layer without any overlap so that they can cook evenly.
• Use a smaller cookie scoop than normal if you want your meatballs on the smaller side. Making sure they are all the same size before you put them in the oven is the most critical step. Keep an eye on the timer so that they don’t get baked for too long.
• When using freshly grated cheese, you’ll notice that it melts more evenly. Anti-clumping chemicals are used in the pre-packaged cheese, which prevents it from melting as well as fresh cheese. It also has a superior flavor when it’s fresh!
• Check out my post on how to prepare pasta in the time that it takes the meatballs to bake in the oven. That way, you’ll be able to have everything else ready at the same time. In about half an hour, your spaghetti and meatballs will be ready to enjoy!
• This casserole dish, like any other type of casserole dish, is perfect for being frozen, and the meatball casserole is not an exception. My preference is to make twice as much food, either to store in the freezer for later use or to share with a friend whose freezer might need some tender loving care.