Description
A comforting and flavorful Meatball Casserole recipe that combines tender meatballs, pasta, spinach, and gooey mozzarella cheese in a rich red sauce. Perfect for a cozy family dinner or gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs:
- 6 ounces whole wheat pasta
- 2–3 slices whole wheat bread (for making 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs)
- 1 pound extra lean ground turkey
- 8 ounces spicy Italian turkey sausage (casings removed)
- 1 large egg (lightly beaten)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (divided, plus additional for tossing the pasta)
- 1 small yellow onion
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 32 ounces prepared red pasta sauce (about 3 1/2 cups)
- 10 ounces frozen chopped spinach (squeezed dry)
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella
Instructions
- Preheat: Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
- Boil: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until barely al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Mix: Pulse bread in a food processor and combine with ground turkey, sausage, egg, salt, Parmesan, and parsley. Form into balls.
- Cook: Brown meatballs in olive oil, then set aside.
- Simmer: Cook onion, garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, pasta sauce, and spinach. Add meatballs and simmer.
- Assemble: Add pasta and shredded mozzarella to the skillet. Top with sliced mozzarella and bake.
- Bake: Bake until cheese is melted and bubbly. Let rest before serving.
Notes
- You can customize the spice level by adjusting the amount of red pepper flakes.
- Feel free to add your favorite vegetables to the casserole for extra nutrition.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking, Sauteing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: Meatball Casserole, Meatballs, Pasta Casserole, Italian-American Recipe
