Oven-Baked Cheesy Meatball Pasta Delight

Ingredients

- 12 ounces short ruffled pasta
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups water
- 12 ounces frozen party-size mini meatballs
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped flat leaf parsley
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven:
- Set your oven to 375°F to warm up while you prepare the pasta dish.

2. Prepare the pasta mixture:
- In a large oven-safe baking dish, combine the short ruffled pasta and mini meatballs.
- Pour in the marinara sauce and water, stirring gently to ensure the pasta and meatballs are covered in the sauce mixture.
- Sprinkle Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and ground black pepper evenly over the mixture.

3. Add the ricotta layer:
- Using a tablespoon, dollop the ricotta cheese evenly over the pasta and meatball mixture. No need to spread it, as it will naturally melt and blend during baking.

4. Bake the pasta:
- Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
- Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until the pasta is tender when tested with a fork.

5. Add cheesy topping:
- Remove the foil, and evenly sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan over the baked pasta.
- Return the uncovered dish to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

6. Garnish and serve:
- Remove the dish from the oven and garnish with fresh chopped flat leaf parsley for a burst of color and flavor.
- Allow the dish to rest for a few minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.

Preparation & Cooking Time

- Preparation Time: PT10M
10 minutes
- Cooking Time: PT55M
55 minutes

Total Time

- Total Time: PT1H5M
1 hour and 5 minutes

Type of Dish

- Dinner

Keywords

- Cheesy Pasta Bake
- Meatball Pasta
- Oven-Baked Dinner
- Easy Italian Recipe
- Family Dinner
- Comfort Food
- Weeknight Meal
- Pasta Casserole
- Baked Meatballs
- Ricotta Pasta

Recipe Yield

- Feeds 4 adults

Calories

- Total: 2,560 calories

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