Meatball Pasta Bake – The ultimate ziti pasta bake made with homemade meatballs in a delicious tomato sauce with parmesan and mozzarella cheese.
Melt your mouth baked ziti with meatballs is the ultimate comfort food your entire family is going to love! If you are looking to elevate your pasta game, this recipe is for you! This dish is made with the most delicious homemade meatballs in a homemade pasta sauce baked to golden perfection.
This recipe was a huge hit in my house which is why I am so excited to share this recipe with you! It serves about 4-6 people depending on everyones appetite. If you are cooking for a very large party, you can easily double this recipe.
Baked Meatball Pasta makes the most delicious leftovers! So, don’t worry about having too much pasta! Store completely cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Ingredients you need to make my ultimate Meatball Pasta Bake:
- Ground Beef – I prefer to use an 85/15 fat ratio for meatballs, but you can use whatever you have on hand. You can also substitute ground turkey in this recipe.
- Onion – Yellow, white or red onion.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic is best in this recipe.
- Worcestershire Sauce – Adds a delicious flavor to the meatballs.
- Egg – Added richness to the meatballs.
- Ketchup – For a touch of sweet tomato flavor in the meatballs.
- Mustard – I used yellow mustard in this recipe.
- Parsley – Fresh or dried parsley.
- Basil – Fresh or dried basil.
- Breadcrumbs – You can use any breadcrumbs you have on hand such as panko or regular. I used a stale loaf of french bread and turned it into breadcrumbs.
- Salt & Pepper – For the meatballs.
- Ziti Pasta – You’ll need a pound or 1 box of ziti pasta. You can also use penne, rigatoni, etc.
- Brown Sugar – You can use light or dark brown sugar. This adds a delicious sweetness to the meatballs.
- Tomato Sauce – You’ll need two 15 oz. cans.
- Diced Tomatoes – You’ll need about 2 cups of diced tomatoes or one 15 oz. can.
- Balsamic Vinegar – Adds a delicious flavor to your sauce.
- Mozzarella Cheese – Shredded mozzarella cheese. I recommend full fat.
- Parmesan Cheese – I prefer using fresh parmesan grated off the block.
- All-Purpose Flour – To lightly coat meatballs prior to cooking. This will help prevent them from falling apart.
*Full measurements and instructions listed below.
How to prevent meatballs from falling apart:
After numerous attempts at making meatballs that gloriously fall apart on me while cooking, I had enough! I tried different methods to keep the meatballs together until I found the perfect trick.
After forming your meatballs, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Stick them in the freezer for 20 minutes to chill. Then, roll the meatballs in a few tablespoons of flour to lightly coat the outside. Once you are finished flouring the meatballs, cook meatballs in a lightly oiled skillet.
How to make the most delicious Meatball Pasta Bake:
Start by making the meatballs: In a large bowl mix all of the meatball ingredients (except for the flour) until well combined. Form meatballs into tablespoon sized balls. Transfer to a baking sheet or large sheet and place in the freezer for 20 minutes to chill. Once meatballs are done chilling, roll in flour to fully coat.
While the meatballs are chilling, boil ziti pasta and cook until al dente. Drain pasta and set aside.
Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs to the skillet and brown on all sides. Cover meatballs and let cook for another 10 minutes over medium-low heat until meatballs are cooked through. Remove meatballs from skillet.
Heat oven to 350 degrees while you cook the sauce.
Drain excess grease from skillet and add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, and remaining seasonings. Stir sauce to combine and cook over medium heat until sauce begins to simmer. Once simmering, break up tomatoes with your spatula. Then, remove sauce from heat.
Arrange the Meatball Pasta Bake in a large 9″x 13″ baking dish of your choice. Pour 1/3 cup pasta sauce to coat the bottom of the dish. Follow by adding half of the ziti pasta. Next, evenly sprinkle half of the meatballs on top of the pasta. Pour half of the remaining sauce over pasta/meatballs. Sprinkle half of the parmesan and mozzarella cheese on top. Repeat these steps for the second layer.
Place dish in the oven and bake for 20 minutes until cheese is melty and edges are golden. When done, remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
Serve with your favorite garlic bread or fresh salad. Enjoy!
Tools to have on hand for this recipe:
- Baking Dish – Large 13″x9″ baking dish or equivalent to a 3 qt dish.
- Large Skillet + Large Saucepan – To boil your pasta and for cooking meatballs/pasta sauce.
- Measuring Cups + Spoons – To properly measure all of your ingredients.
- Mixing Bowl + Mixing Fork – For mixing the meatballs.
Side salads and breads to pair with pasta:
- Simple Caesar Salad – My quick and easy caesar salad is made with homemade dressing, crunchy romaine, croutons and freshly grated parmesan cheese.
- Easy Homemade Garlic Bread – Classic garlic bread recipe with one secret ingredient that places this garlic bread above the rest. Serve warm with your favorite pastas, salads and soups.
- Buttery Garlic Breadsticks – These breadsticks are soft, chewy, mouthwatering good! The dough is made from scratch then lathered in fresh garlic butter and baked to golden perfection
If you enjoyed this recipe, here are a few of my favorite pasta dishes I think you’ll love:
- Crockpot Italian Meatballs – Homemade Italian meatballs are the perfect easy weeknight meal cooked low and slow in your slow cooker. Serve on a bed of warm spaghetti or on toasty buns for a delicious meatball sandwich.
- Creamy Chipotle Chicken Pasta – Fettuccine tossed in a creamy chipotle sauce with chicken, corn, diced tomatoes and a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley and parmesan cheese.
- Classic Sausage Lasagna – Super delicious and simple lasagna recipe made with sausage, homemade robust tomato sauce, mozzarella and ricotta cheese.
Meatball Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ziti Pasta
- 1 15 oz. Diced Tomatoes canned
- 2 15 oz. Tomato Sauce canned
- 2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 1/2 cups Mozzarella Cheese grated
- 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- 1 tsp Dried Parsley or 2 tsp fresh chopped
- 1/2 tsp Dried Basil or 1 tsp fresh chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
Meatballs:
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- 1/4 cup Onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 Egg
- 2 tbsp Ketchup
- 1 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp Mustard
- 1 tsp Parsley or 2 tsp fresh chopped
- 1/2 tsp Basil or 1 tsp fresh chopped
- 1/2 cup Breadcrumbs
- 1/4 tsp Salt & Pepper each
- 2 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
Instructions
- Start by making the meatballs: In a large bowl mix all of the meatball ingredients (except for the flour) until well combined. Form meatballs into tablespoon sized balls. Transfer to a baking sheet or large sheet and place in the freezer for 20 minutes to chill. Once meatballs are done chilling, roll in flour to fully coat.
- While the meatballs are chilling, boil ziti pasta and cook until al dente. Drain pasta and set aside.
- Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs to the skillet and brown on all sides. Cover meatballs and let cook for another 10 minutes over medium-low heat until meatballs are cooked through. Remove meatballs from skillet.
- Heat oven to 350 degrees while you cook the sauce.
- Drain excess grease from skillet and add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, and remaining seasonings. Stir sauce to combine and cook over medium heat until sauce begins to simmer. Once simmering, break up tomatoes with your spatula. Then, remove sauce from heat.
- Arrange the Meatball Pasta Bake in a large 9″x 13″ baking dish of your choice. Pour 1/3 cup pasta sauce to coat the bottom of the dish. Follow by adding half of the ziti pasta. Next, evenly sprinkle half of the meatballs on top of the pasta. Pour half of the remaining sauce over pasta/meatballs. Sprinkle half of the parmesan and mozzarella cheese on top. Repeat these steps for the second layer.
- Place dish in the oven and bake for 20 minutes until cheese is melty and edges are golden. When done, remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
- Serve with your favorite garlic bread or fresh salad. Enjoy!
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