The worst kept secret in food is that everyone loves spaghetti and meatballs for the meatballs. Meatball Casserole is all about highlighting the savory, seasoned flavor of the beefy meatballs; the classic bright spaghetti sauce elevates the richness of the meatballs while the creaminess and tanginess of the egg noodles and cheese layer add a wonderful contrast to bring out the beefiness. Meatball Casserole takes one of the most beloved foods in the world and finds a way to make it better. It’s as simple as that, even though the taste is far from simple!
Ingredients
- 1 cup spaghetti sauce, prepared
- 1 (16-ounce) package frozen meatballs, bite-sized and thawed
- 1 (7-ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
- 1 (0.75-ounce) package fresh basil leaf, chopped
- 2 tomatoes, sliced into 1/4-inch thick slices
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 large eggs
- 3 teaspoons garlic, roasted and minced
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/2 (12-ounce) package egg noodles, cooked according to package directions
- 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese or provolone cheese, shredded
- fresh parsley, optional, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 2-1/2-quart casserole dish.
Step 3 –Pour 1 cup of the spaghetti sauce into the bottom of the casserole dish.
Step 4 –Place the meatballs into the casserole dish.
Step 5 –Sprinkle the mushrooms on top of the meatballs.
Step 6 –Sprinkle the basil on top of the meatballs and mushrooms.
Step 7 –Place the tomato slices on top of the basil.
Step 8 –In a medium-sized bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, sour cream, and eggs.
Step 9 –Add the garlic, salt, and oregano to the ricotta mixture.
Step 10 –Add the cooked egg noodles to the cheese mixture, combining thoroughly.
Step 11 –Spread the noodle mixture over the tomatoes in the casserole dish.
Step 12 –Bake the casserole for 1 hour.
Step 13 –15 minutes before the end of the bake time, add the shredded cheese to the top of the casserole.
Step 14 –Serve hot!
