Meatball Parmesan Casserole

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Healthy, baked, Turkey Meatballs in this delicious Meatball Parmesan casserole. Move over Chicken Parmesan, there’s a new dinner at the table!

Love easy dinner recipes? Try our Ravioli Lasagna for a quick and easy pasta dish. Or give our Million Dollar Spaghetti casserole dish a try next.

Meatball parmesan casserole in a 13x9 baking dish.
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Why This Recipe Works

Everyone loves meatballs! Why not bake them into a casserole with plenty of cheese and spaghetti sauce?

If you’ve never made your own meatballs from scratch, this is the perfect recipe to get you started! Made with ground turkey and parmesan cheese, they’re packed with protein and flavor!

My family loves this casserole on its own with an olive garden salad on the side or served over a bowl of pasta (or zoodles).

You could also serve up some Meatball Sliders for an easy weeknight dinner! Or give our Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe a try.

So many ways to enjoy savory seasoned turkey meatballs any night of the week!

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients needed to make meatball casserole.

Here’s what you need to make Meatball Parmesan Casserole.

  • Ground turkey – Lean ground beef works as a substitute.
  • Egg – helps bind the meat with the other ingredients.
  • Plain breadcrumbs – Store bought or make your own by pulsing plain white bread in the food processor to form fine crumbs. You could also use panko bread crumbs if you prefer a little more texture!
  • Italian seasoning – I use the dried herb blend, but the fresh kind that comes in a tube would work fine as well.
  • Parmesan cheese – Freshly shredded or grated–not from a shaker!
  • Mozzarella cheese – I prefer to buy it in blocks and grate it myself for best taste and consistency.
  • Garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper
  • Spaghetti sauce – Jarred or try this easy homemade marinara sauce.

How to Make Meatball Casserole

Step by step photos showing how to make meatball casserole.

For the meatballs:

  1. Mix the meatball ingredients together and use your hands to roll them into balls.
  2. Spread them out onto a baking sheet and bake for 20 -25 minutes.

For the casserole:

  1. Pour half the jar of sauce into a casserole dish, then top with the baked meatballs, remaining sauce and shredded cheeses.
  2. Bake the casserole covered with foil for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 5 minutes.

The cheese should be melted and slightly bubbly. Serve hot!

Meatball casserole on a plate with spaghetti noodles.

Recipe FAQs

Can meatballs be made in advance?

You can bake meatballs ahead of time and then freeze them for later. Freeze the cooled meatballs on the baking sheet for about 30 minutes, then transfer to an airtight container.
When you’re ready to make the casserole, you can add the frozen meatballs right in; you’ll just need to add a few minutes of baking time.

Can you substitute another kind of cheese for the parmesan?

Yes, mozzarella could be used in the meatballs instead of parmesan if preferred.

Can I use ground beef instead of turkey as a 1:1 substitute?

Sure thing! These meatballs would be delicious with ground beef as well.

How do you store leftover casserole?

Cover the casserole dish with cling plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container. Keep refrigerated until ready to reheat and eat!

Baked meatball casserole in a white baking dish.

Serving Suggestions

You’ll love this meatball casserole all on its own but we also like to mix it up! Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

  • Meatball SubsSlice hoagie rolls in half and toast them before piling them high with the saucy meatballs. Add all your favorite sub toppings and enjoy.
  • Instant Pot SpaghettiHave a classic pasta night and ladle the casserole over cooked spaghetti noodles. Top with extra cheese if desired.
  • Zoodles– Serve it up low carb style on zucchini noodles instead of pasta.

Looking for a great side dish for Meatball Parmesan Casserole? Make some Cheesy Garlic Bread or Olive Garden Breadsticks.

Or make these for the holidays with a side of sweet potato casserole. Our green bean casserole would be delicious too.

With so many delicious ways to enjoy healthy baked Turkey Meatballs, you’ll never run out of meal ideas the whole family loves.

Meatballs and sauce on a white serving plate.

More Dinner Recipes

Don’t forget dessert! Give our easy peanut butter balls or banana pudding recipe a try next.

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Meatball Parmesan Casserole

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By: Aimee
Healthy, baked, Turkey Meatballs in this delicious Meatball Parmesan casserole. Move over Chicken Parmesan, there's a new dinner at the table!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 40 meatballs

Ingredients 

For the meatballs:

  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
  • 3 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 cranks fresh ground black pepper

For the casserole:

  • 1 jar spaghetti sauce 24 ounce
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese shredded
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
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Instructions 

  • For the meatballs: In large bowl, mix together the meatball ingredients until combined evenly (I use my hands). Roll into 40 balls (about 1 1/2-2 inches).
  • Space evenly on prepared baking sheet. Bake in a 425 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.
  • For the casserole:  Pour half of the spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a 2qt baking dish. Top with meatballs. Pour remaining sauce over meatballs. Top with shredded parmesan and mozzarella.
  • Cover with foil and bake in a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 5 minutes, until cheese is melted.
  • Serve as is, or with a pile of pasta. Also great on a sub sandwich!

Notes

  • Swap out the homemade meatballs for frozen meatballs instead.
  • You can bake the meatballs ahead of time and then freeze them for later. Freeze the cooled meatballs on the baking sheet, then transfer to an airtight container. When you’re ready to make the casserole, you can add the frozen meatballs right in; you’ll just need to add a few minutes of baking time.
  • These meatballs would be delicious with ground beef as well.
  • Cover the casserole dish with cling plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container. Keep refrigerated until ready to reheat and eat!
  • See blog post for more recipe tips and tricks.

Nutrition

Serving: 1meatball, Calories: 54kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 20mg, Sodium: 106mg
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!
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About Aimee

Aimee is a dessert lover (specifically rice krispie treats), workout enthusiast, self-taught foodie, and recipe creator.

Learn more about Aimee.

Affiliate Disclosure:**There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I love! Thank you for supporting Shugary Sweets! See my disclosure policy for more info**

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Posted on July 8, 2023

Comments & Reviews

  1. Okay, you’ve convinced me! So far, I’m not very good at making meatballs. But this looks so good I think I’ll have to try again. (I also don’t have much affection for ground turkey but you just might win me over in that dept. too. If not, that’s OK)
    Thanks for the recipe!

  2. I feel the same way about winter – it feels exceptionally long this year. Comfort food like this is perfect for this weather, love that you use turkey in here too, my whole family would love this 🙂

  3. This casserole looks great! Love using turkey to make it a little healthier. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  4. lol I could never do homeschooling for my future kids either…pesky math.

    I love this casserole-it looks cheesy and comforting and meaty! I can’t believe those are turkey meatballs!

    1. I see nothing wrong with that at all. They’re turkey meatballs. And baked. No problems here…

  5. This is SUCH a good idea – I haven’t even had breakfast yet and this is making me hungry! Perfect for the ongoing snowiness.

  6. I’m so with you on the no schooling my kids for the exact same reasons! You’re too funny! Love this meatball casserole!

  7. That looks good! Around here it’s finally cold and we are getting some much needed rain! Bring on the warm comfort food!

  8. I’m so over winter too! The cold, the ice, the snow days…I’m done!!! Honestly I could live in FL and never see snow again! Although I do like the comfort food this time of year! These meatballs look amazing! If there wasn’t so much snow between your house and mine, I would pop in for dinner!!!

  9. I like the snow but definitely not too much, I am ready for winter to be gone so I can stop freezing all of the time. Seriously walk around with one or two sweaters on! I need to add this to my meal plan!

  10. OOh, I’m definitely pinning this! I’m always looking for different ways to use ground turkey and for some reason I never think about meatballs. This looks really good!

  11. I’m feeling the same way about winter but trying not to complain. Loading up on coffee and enjoying my robe, slippers and fireplace much more than usual!
    Looks like a great casserole that my whole family would enjoy! If there’s cheese we’re there. 🙂

  12. Freezing the meatballs is a great idea! With all the kid activities, I find I need quick dinners more often! Great dinner Aimee!

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