Delicious Meatball Casserole Topped with Cheddar Cheese
Meatball Casserole is a crowd-pleasing dinner, made with spaghetti and topped with cheddar cheese. Juicy meatballs in a flavorful sauce.
Course Main Meal
Cuisine American
Keyword meatball casserole, meatballs casserole
Prep Time 20minutes
Cook Time 30minutes
Total Time 50minutes
Servings 4people
Calories 430kcal
Author Muna Kenny
Ingredients
THE MEATBALLS
400gm Ground beefyou can use lamb instead
Salt to taste
¼teaspoonblack pepper
½teaspoongarlic powder
½teaspoononion powder
TO FRY THE MEATBALLS
¼cupoil
THE SAUCE
2medium onion finely chopped
2tablespoonolive oil
2tablespoonbutter
4minced garlic
2tablespoontomato paste
3cupshot water
¼teaspoonsugar
Salt to taste
½teaspoonpaprika
½teaspoonoregano or Italian seasoning
THE PASTA
250gm spaghettiaround half a pack
Enough water to cook the spaghetti
1tablespoonsalt
FOR THE TOPPING
1cupshredded cheddar cheese
1teaspoonoregano
Instructions
MAKING THE MEATBALLS
In a bowl, add all the ingredients and form 8 equal size balls.
Do not overmix the ingredients to avoid having tough meatballs.
In a pan heat around quarter cup cooking oil, when hot, add the meatballs.
You can add the meatballs in batches if your frying pan is small pan.
Crowding the pan with meatballs will not allow it to brown and the cooking time will increase resulting in dry meatballs.
Fry the meatballs for 6 minutes on medium high heat and then keep aside.
MAKING THE PASTA
In a deep pan, add enough water to cover the past and add the salt.
When the water boils add the spaghetti and stir one time.
Let the pasta cook until al dente (have a little firm bite to it.) or cook 9 to 11 minutes.
Drain the pasta and keep aside.
**If you are not going to use the pasta within 5 minutes then sprinkle the drained pasta with olive oil and then mix to prevent it from sticking together.
MAKING THE SAUCE
In a pan, add the olive oil and butter. When the butter melts add the onion and sauté until translucent.
Add the garlic and stir for one minute on medium-low heat, try not to burn the garlic.
Add the tomato paste and stir for two minutes.
Add the rest of the ingredients to the sauce except the water and stir for one minute.
Add the hot water and cook on medium high for 7 minutes.
Add the meatballs and let the sauce cook for 11 minutes.
MAKING MEATBALL CASSEROLE
Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
In a 10” baking pan, add the pasta and then the meatball sauce. Mix a little.
Top the pasta and meatballs with the shredded cheddar cheese and sprinkle the oregano.
Cover the pan with foil and bake until the cheese melts, this will take around 10 to 15 minutes.
You can broil the casserole if you like brown patches on the cheese.