Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs is an easy, kid-friendly weeknight dinner with cooked meatballs and spaghetti in one cheesy casserole.
This recipe is an even easier version of my popular cheesy Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti. I have so many kid-friendly Pasta Dinner Recipes that are so simple to make and freeze for quick weeknight meals!
Sabrina’s Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs
Spaghetti and meatballs is the ultimate family comfort food. It’s an easy recipe that you can adjust to your pickiest eater’s taste (like reserving noodles without sauce for the kid who wants plain everything), plus it’s pretty darn inexpensive.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 6 cups Marinara Sauce , 2 jars
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 32 beef meatballs , cooked and thawed
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese , shredded and divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray 9×13 baking dish with vegetable oil spray.
- Cook pasta as directed and drain (do not rinse).
- Add the noodles to a large bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Add in the pasta sauce, meatballs and half the mozzarella cheese.
- Pour into your baking dish and spread evenly.
- Bake for 30 minutes, covered.
- Uncover, top with remaining mozzarella cheese and cook for 10 more minutes until cheese is melted.
Nutrition
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Table of contents
About This Recipe
This casserole dish is also great for potlucks or family gatherings. You can make it the night before and bake in the morning while you are getting ready for work or your event. The portions for 8 are generous. You can serve with some garlic bread, a simple salad, and fresh grated parmesan cheese rounds out this meal.
Chef’s Note
What I love most about this dish is it’s a perfect meal prep recipe. It freezes well and with about a day defrosting in the fridge, it’s ready to go like it was freshly made. I almost always have a version of baked spaghetti on hand in the freezer. Often I use meatballs like in this recipe or I make a classic Spaghetti Casserole with ground beef, depending on what’s on sale.
How to Store
- Serve: You can keep your spaghetti casserole at room temperature for up to 2 hours.
- Store: Both leftovers and made ahead Baked Spaghetti can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: This dish is good in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Alternate Cooking Techniques
Slow Cooker
- Pour spaghetti sauce into slow cooker.
- Add 4 cups of water or chicken broth.
- Toss uncooked noodles in the salt and olive oil.
- Break spaghetti noodles in half and place partially into sauce.
- Top with frozen meatballs. No need to stir.
- Cover and cook on low for about 2-5 hours (Until noodles are soft and meatballs heated)
- Top with mozzarella cheese.
- Cover and cook an additional 30 minutes until cheese is melted and sauce is warmed.
- If transferring to baking dish to broil, hold back on mozzarella until you put in oven.
Instant Pot
- Remove trivet from pot.
- Place the meatballs in Instant Pot.
- Break the spaghetti noodles in half and place on top of meatballs.
- Drizzle the olive oil and salt over spaghetti.
- Add marinara and 3 cups water or chicken broth to completely cover noodles.
- Cover and set the Instant Pot to manual for 10 minutes.
- Quick release the pressure. Serve topped with mozzarella cheese.
- Optional: Stir in cottage cheese. Transfer to a baking dish, top with mozzarella and bake for 10-15 minutes until warmed through and cheese is melted.
Variations
- Homemade Meatballs: Instead of using frozen meatballs, you can make my easy Homemade Meatballs. This lets you control the ingredients. Just make sure your meatballs are cooked before adding to the casserole.
- Sauce: I used my easy marinara for this recipe but you can substitute your favorite jar of pasta sauce instead. You can also make this dish extra meaty by adding ground beef or Italian sausage crumbles to the spaghetti sauce.
- Pasta: This easy recipe will work with pretty much any pasta you have on hand, like penne or macaroni. It is also delicious with frozen raviolis! Layer them like lasagna for an extra cheesy version.
- Vegetables: Sauté your favorite veggies like mushrooms, eggplant, or zucchini and add to the layers. I like to add big chunks of roasted garlic sprinkled on top for a slightly stronger flavor.
- Cheese: Add Ricotta or mascarpone cheese for a richer, creamier dish. For a vegan or lighter version with a creamy cheesy center use a well-drained firm tofu that has been blended to a smooth texture.
Related Recipes
More Spaghetti Dinner
Photos used in previous versions of the post:
This way a hit with my picky eaters. I think I may need to add more sauce to it next time just because the noodles absorbed so much, but it was a great low fuss meal and my kids loved it! Thanks!
Could I sub gluten free noodles in this?
Yes. And as you know, cook according to gluten free noodles recipe as they take less time and you don’t want to end up with mushy spaghetti.
…….Sabrina, I wrote you in comments below this one but I just realized I should have told you that I have a round 2 qt casserole dish, a 1 1/2 qt size, and a 1 3/4 qt size. Which of those would be most appropriate to hold that much spaghetti and meatballs……..and what adaptations should I make time wise if any?
Thanks again 🙂
I’m wanting to make this easy recipe for company next week. However, my 9 x 13 pan will have a cake in it. What size casserole dish would be appropriate instead and would I need to let it bake longer before the last ten minutes to melt the cheese? Thanks so much 🙂
How long does it take to heat once you take it out of the freezer? Thanks
it will take about an hour if you cook it frozen.
Could I put this together the night before, refrigerate then bake next eve?
Sure 🙂
How long do you bake it if you refrigerate it overnight and cook it the next day? Thank you!
You may need to add an additional 10-15 minutes to the cook time.
Fantastic recipe. Family loved it!
Love this recipe! It’s so easy and tasty. I’ll definitely be making this again and again!
So glad you enjoyed it, Kim.
Spaghetti is an all-time favorite in my family. Thank you for posting the various cooking methods in your recipe. Always nice to have options!
You’re welcome, Sophie.
Oooh, my favourite kind of comfort food. Yum!
It’s the best, isn’t it?!
I have been looking for a baked spaghetti recipe, plus one I can stick in the freezer for those times I don’t feel like cooking. Can’t wait to make it.
Freezing one definitely makes it easier on those busy nights. Enjoy!
This is perfect for a cold winter night! It’s super easy and delicious one meal pasta dish.
Pasta is always a winner.
Can I make ahead with frozen fully cooked meatballs? Just assemble it with all ingredients cooled and drop in the frozen meatballs and place in freezer?
Follow all the steps until it says to put it in the oven. Top with foil and freeze. Defrost in the fridge the day before you plan on serving and bake as usual. If you cook from frozen, cook time will at least an hour.
Sabrina,
I am a senior citizen with limited mobility. I enjoy making your recipes, first, because you explain the process so well, second, it is not at all difficult to make, and third, because the final result is always delicious. I don’t cook as often as I used to, but if I am going to make dinner for my family, I always turn to your recipes. I know that it will always turn out perfect. Thank you for making cooking possible for me again.
You are too sweet! Thank you for taking the time to let me know how much you enjoy the recipes.
Can you use turkey meatballs instead of beef meatballs? I have to watch my cholesterol, so I hardly ever eat red meat anymore.
Sure 🙂