Meatball Parmesan Pasta Bake

Name: Meatball Parmesan Pasta Bake
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 12 ounces elbow macaroni; 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese; Extra grated parmesan cheese for garnish; Fresh basil for garnish; 1 1/4 pounds lean ground beef; 1 tablespoon chopped garlic; 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs; 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese; 2 eggs; 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning; 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; Fresh black pepper to taste; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped garlic; 29 ounce can tomato sauce; 3 cups water; 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning; 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

•Posted: May 24, 2021

•Dan

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This cheesy and comforting Meatball Parmesan Pasta Bake is so easy to get on the dinner table because it’s made all in one skillet!

Easy clean up makes dinner time a breeze! Our kids devoured this meatball and pasta dinner, and we think yours will too. Also be sure to check out our Cheeseburger Meatball Skillet and this Skillet Chicken Pot Pie for more one pot dinner ideas!

Meatball Parmesan Pasta Skillet

This is one of those recipes that you might look at and be like, nah, too difficult for tonight. Well I’m here to tell you my friends, you’re going to be surprised. This pasta bake dinner only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish and it’s so crazy delicious, we’ll be making it all the time from now on.

There’s something so delicious about this baked pasta that cooks right in a homemade tomato sauce. The pasta has so much more flavor than if it was boiled in water. Topped of with homemade meatballs and a few dollops of fresh mozzarella cheese, it’s no wonder this pasta dinner is a home run.

How Do You Make This Pasta Bake?

Start by mixing up homemade meatballs that just have a few ingredients. The key to these meatballs is using a good quality ground beef. We like a 93% lean grass fed ground beef if you can get that, but just make sure it’s a good quality product.

Mix the meatballs with parmesan cheese, salt, peppers, panko breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning and fresh garlic. Form them into slightly larger than gold ball shape meatballs (you should get about 15 meatballs).

Brown the meatballs in a skillet with a little olive oil on both sides until golden brown. As you can see the meatballs won’t be cooked all the way through and that’s ok, they’ll finish cooking in the oven.

Remove the meatballs from the skillet and set aside on a plate. To the same skillet, add fresh chopped garlic and cook for just about a minute being careful not to let the garlic get too brown.

Pour in tomato sauce, water, more Italian seasoning and a little salt. Stir and bring to a simmer. Let the sauce simmer for about 5 minutes and then add elbow macaroni. Stir the pasta to combine with the sauce and then add the meatball into the skillet.

Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, remove the skillet from the oven, stir and then and place the mozzarella cheese around the meatballs and pasta. Return the skillet to the oven and bake fro another 5-7 minutes until the cheese is melted.

How Do You Serve This Meatball Parmesan Pasta?

Right on the table. It couldn’t be easier. We like to place a trivet right on the table and just put the skillet right in the center. Wrap a towel around the handle if you don’t have a silicone cover so that no one accidentally grabs the hot handle and then dig in. If you have little ones, just keep the skillet on the stove and dish it out for them on their plates.

Side Dish Ideas!!!

There are so many to choose from here on our site, just head over to our “Side Dishes Menu” but here are a few of our favorites!

Looking For More Pasta Recipes?