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–+ servings
A bubbling Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole in a baking dish, featuring rotini pasta, meatballs, and melted mozzarella, enhanced by tomato-infused broth.

Easy Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

Rebecca Blumer
A cozy, one-dish baked pasta dinner with rotini, jarred sauce, thawed precooked meatballs, and a bubbly mozzarella top—no pre-boiling required.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 43 minutes
Total Time 53 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Italian-American
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 520 kcal

Equipment

  • 9x13 Baking Dish
  • Tin foil

Ingredients
 

  • 1 box (16 oz) rotini pasta uncooked
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 pinch dried oregano or Italian seasoning
  • 1 jar (24 oz) pasta sauce
  • 1 bag (14 oz) frozen precooked meatballs thawed
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions
 

Preheat and Prep the Dish

  • Heat the oven to 425° F. Generously coat a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray so nothing sticks and cleanup is easy.

Dump, Season, and Cover

  • Whisk the tomato paste and a pinch of dried oregano or Italian seasoning into the water.
  • Pour the uncooked pasta into the baking dish, then add the water mixture, pasta sauce, meatballs and salt. Stir briefly to nudge pasta under the liquid, then cover the pan tightly with tin foil to trap steam for even baking.

Bake and Stir Halfway

  • Bake for 35 minutes, stirring everything together halfway through. When you stir, scrape the corners and edges so any pasta poking up gets re-submerged and cooks tender instead of crunchy.

Add Cheese and Finish

  • Once done, give it one more thorough stir, then blanket the top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5-8 minutes until the cheese has fully melted and looks glossy and bubbly.

Garnish and Serve

  • Spoon into bowls while it’s hot and saucy. Serve with a garnish of parmesan cheese or chopped fresh parsley if wanted.

Notes

Cover the dish tightly with foil to trap steam, and don’t skip the halfway stir—this prevents dry, crunchy pasta around the edges. If it seems watery, rest uncovered 5 to 10 minutes to thicken.
Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.

Nutrition

Calories: 520kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 25gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 1050mgPotassium: 650mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 450IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 260mgIron: 3.5mg
Keyword baked rotini, cheesy pasta bake, dump and bake casserole, easy weeknight dinner, meatball casserole
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