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Cheesy Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs

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Cheesy baked spaghetti and meatballs is the ultimate comfort food. It’s a hearty, no boil pasta bake of spaghetti topped with meatballs and gooey cheese that all cooks up in the oven. It’s a one-pot meal that is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.

A spoon scooping up some spaghetti and a meatball.

You are going to love the simplicity of making this cheesy baked spaghetti and meatballs recipe. No pasta boiling, no frying up meatballs. It all goes in the casserole or baking dish in layers and then baked. It’s a delicious and satisfying meal that the entire family will love. 

Why This Recipe Works

If you’re looking for a delicious, hearty dinner option that won’t take long to make, then this cheesy baked spaghetti and meatballs recipe is exactly what you need. It’s super easy to make – requiring pantry staples, a few minutes of prep, and one baking dish.

It’s an easy twist on classic spaghetti and meatballs. And because there’s no boiling required, it’s a snap to prepare, ready to eat in no time!

  • Easy and quick to make.
  • No pasta boiling, no meatball frying, everything goes in the baking dish.
  • Family-friendly, and affordable.
  • And, because it is so versatile, you can easily customize it to your family’s taste with different cheeses, herbs, and sauces!

Cheesy baked spaghetti and meatballs is also a perfect potluck casserole to take to gatherings.

Ingredients for baked spaghetti: chicken broth, spaghetti noodles, parmesan, garlic powder, salt, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, mozzarella, marinara, Worcestershire, and basil.
Ingredients for meatballs: ground beef, chicken broth, egg, parmesan cheese, onion soup mix, and bread crumbs.

Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you will need for this no boil pasta bake recipe. For all the details, scroll down to the printable recipe card.

To Make The Meatballs

  • Bread crumbs. You can also use crushed crackers.
  • Egg. The egg acts as a binder.
  • Parmesan cheese. The cheese adds a savory flavor to the meatballs.
  • Lipton Onion Soup Mix. Dry onion soup mix makes this meatball recipe so fast and easy.
  • Ground beef.

For The Cheesy Baked Spaghetti

  • Spaghetti. Just about any dry pasta will work but you may need to adjust the baking time.
  • Olive oil.
  • Marinara sauce. Make your own, or purchase a jar of good quality Marinara or pasta sauce.
  • Chicken broth. Since the dry pasta cooks in the oven, you need to add extra liquid for the pasta to absorb. You can add water, but chicken broth or tomato sauce adds more flavor.
  • Cheese. Parmesan cheese and Mozzarella add a rich flavor. You can substitute with other types of cheese as well.
  • Worcestershire sauce. This gives the baked spaghetti a depth of flavor.
  • Seasoning and herbs: Garlic powder, Italian seasoning blend, salt, crushed red pepper flakes, and fresh basil.

Recipe Highlights

Here is a brief overview of this no boil meatball pasta bake, but make sure you scroll down to the printable recipe card for all the details.

Mix the Meatballs

With just 20 minutes of prep time and less than an hour in the oven, you’ll have a dish worthy of any Italian restaurant that your whole family will love.

You can use precooked frozen meatballs, but if you make homemade meatballs, they will add more flavor to the meal. The meatballs will bake right on top of the spaghetti and infuse their juices into the dish.

  1. Combine the ground beef with the seasonings and breadcrumbs then form small meatballs. Set them aside while you prepare the rest of the dish.
Mixing ground beef with bread crumbs and seasonings, then forming meatballs

Assemble the Baked Spaghetti

  1. Spread the dry pasta into the baking dish and drizzle olive oil over the top. Pour the marinara sauce and chicken broth over the noodles.
Pouring tomato sauce on top of spaghetti noodles then adding the chicken broth.

  1. Add the Parmesan cheese, Worcestershire, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and crushed red pepper flakes.

  2. Use tongs to lift the pasta and toss the mixture until well combined. Make sure the sauce completely coats the pasta and gets to the bottom of the dish.
Adding seasonings and cheese then stirring everything together to coat the noodles in the sauce.

Cover and Bake

  1. Arrange the meatballs on top of the pasta. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake.

    Halfway through the baking time, remove the aluminum foil and wiggle the tongs between the meatballs and scrape the bottom and sides of the dish. Twist the tongs a bit to make sure the sauce falls between and under the pasta. 
Covering the casserole dish with aluminum foil and baking it, then adding cheese and baking it again.

  1. Return the meatball pasta bake to the oven and cook uncovered for an additional 15 minutes.

  2. Top the dish with Mozzarella cheese and bake until the cheese is melted. Sprinkle chopped basil over the top and serve. 

Baked spaghetti in a casserole dish topped with meatballs and melted cheese.

After removing your casserole of cheesy baked spaghetti, uncover it and let it rest for about 15 minutes to set up more. Serve with your favorite Italian pasta dinner sides.

A bowl filled with a serving of cheesy baked spaghetti and meatballs.

Serving Ideas

This cheesy baked spaghetti recipe is perfect for those busy weeknights when you need something easy that the whole family can dig into.

With its delightful blend of ingredients, unbeatable flavor profile, and easy assembly process – this spaghetti meatball casserole is guaranteed to become an instant success. Serve warm with a tossed green salad and Texas toast garlic bread for an easy dinner your family’s sure to savor. Here are some more serving suggestions.

? Tips for Success

  • If you don’t have time to make your own meatballs, you can use frozen meatballs or make this a meatless baked pasta dish.
  • Use a good quality pasta sauce, or make homemade marinara or spaghetti sauce. We have a red wine pasta sauce, a garlic basil marinara sauce, and a simple San Marzano sauce that work great with this recipe.
  • Use a cookie scoop to shape the meatballs quickly.
  • Stir the pasta gently so you don’t break the meatballs. Wiggle the tongs between the meatballs and twist them around to mix the spaghetti.
  • If you use angel hair pasta, reduce the baking time by 5 to 10 minutes and cook until the pasta is al dente.
  • If you prefer the pasta softer than al dente, add 1/4 cup more chicken broth and cook the casserole dish for 10 more minutes. 

✅ Substitutions and Variations

More Pasta Recipes

 If you feel like you’ve eaten the same old plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce too many times, why not try something new? Here are some more pasta recipes to try. 

  Storage and Reheating

Allow leftovers to cool completely before storing. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.

You can reheat this meatball pasta bake in the oven at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes. To prevent the casserole from drying out, cover it with foil and add a splash of water or chicken broth before reheating.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use different types of pasta?

Yes, you can use any type of pasta you like. However, I recommend using a long, thin pasta, such as spaghetti or fettuccine, so that it can soak up all of the sauce easily.

Can I use different types of cheese?

Yes, absolutely! You can easily switch it up and use a different type of cheese to suit your taste preference. Some other great options include cheddar, ricotta cheese, asiago cheese, gruyere cheese, and provolone cheese.

What can I serve with this casserole?

This cheesy baked spaghetti casserole is a hearty and filling dinner. To make it a complete meal, all you need is a side salad and some crusty bread.

Our baked spaghetti and meatball casserole is bursting with flavor from the juicy meatballs, stretchy cheese, and savory marinara sauce. Plus, cleanup doesn’t get easier since everything cooks together in a single dish!

A meatball and stretchy, melted cheese from cheesy baked spaghetti casserole.

⭐️ Helpful Tools

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? More Recipes You Will Love:

Preparing a delicious and filling meal like crockpot goulash is simple and hassle-free with a slow cooker. The flavors marry together as the dish simmers all day. Serve a little gem Caesar salad on the side.

Try out this easy One Pot Chicken Orzo recipe for a fast weeknight dinner. Chicken, orzo pasta, flavorful sun-dried tomatoes, and kale come together for a delicious dinner. Serve it with a classic wedge salad.

Our Bucatini alla Carbonara is a simple yet delicious recipe that’s made with just a few ingredients. It is an easy-to-make and comforting dish that’s perfect for any occasion. Serve it with our arugula and burrata salad.

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A serving of baked spaghetti with stretchy melted cheese and a meatball.

Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs

Yield: 12 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

This recipe for baked spaghetti and meatballs is a one-pot dish packed with flavor and perfect for busy nights when you need to save time on cleanup.

The meatballs bake on top of the pasta, adding flavor and richness to the dish. Stretchy, oozy cheese melts over the top, adding even more flavor. Serve it with garlic bread and a salad for an easy dinner.

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

  • ¾ cup breadcrumbs or crushed crackers
  • 1 egg
  • ⅓ cup chicken broth
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ package onion soup mix
  • 1 pound lean ground beef

For the Cheesy Baked Spaghetti

  • 16 ounces dry spaghetti
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 (24 ounce) jar of marinara sauce
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes.
  • 1-½ cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
  • 2 to 3 sprigs fresh basil, chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and spray a 13x9 inch baking dish with non-stick spray. 

Mix the Meatballs (or use frozen meatballs)

  1. Add the breadcrumbs, egg, and chicken broth to a large bowl and let the breadcrumbs soak for a few minutes. 
  2. Stir in Parmesan and onion soup mix then add the ground beef and mix gently until well combined. 
  3. Form the mixture into 15 to 18 meatballs (about 1-½ inches big). Set the meatballs aside.

Assemble the Baked Spaghetti

  1. Spread the dry pasta into the baking dish and drizzle olive oil over the top. Pour the marinara sauce and chicken broth over the noodles. Add the Parmesan cheese, Worcestershire, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and crushed red pepper flakes. 
  2. Use tongs to lift the pasta and toss the mixture until well combined. Make sure the sauce completely coats the pasta and gets to the bottom of the casserole dish.
  3. Arrange the meatballs on top of the pasta. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake, covered for 35 minutes then remove the aluminum foil and give everything a good stir. Wiggle the tongs between the meatballs and scrape the bottom and sides of the dish. Twist the tongs a bit to make sure the sauce falls between and under the pasta. 
  4. Return the dish to the oven and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes.
  5. Top the dish with Mozzarella cheese and bake for another 5 to 8 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Sprinkle chopped basil over the top and serve. 
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 354Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 796mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 22g

Nutrition information is a guideline only. It is calculated automatically by third-party software, and absolute accuracy is not guaranteed.

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Dahn Boquist

Dahn is a retired nurse, recipe creator, home cook, baker, and self-proclaimed foodie. She loves creating in the kitchen and cooking for family and friends. She lives in Washington State with her husband and dog. When she isn't cooking or baking, you can usually find her spending time with her grandchildren or exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

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