Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Yield: 4-6 servings
Category: Main Dish
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients:
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 bell peppers, chopped
- 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare the Meatballs:
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh parsley, egg, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Shape the mixture into meatballs, approximately 1 inch in diameter. You should get around 20-24 meatballs.
- Brown the Meatballs:
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.
- Remove the meatballs from the skillet and set them aside.
- Prepare the Vegetable and Tomato Sauce:
- In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and bell peppers. Sauté until they are softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, dried basil, and dried oregano to the skillet. Stir well to combine.
- Assemble the Casserole:
- Place the meatballs in a greased casserole dish.
- Pour the tomato and vegetable mixture over the meatballs, ensuring they are well coated.
- Bake the Casserole:
- Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- Remove the foil and sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the top of the casserole.
- Return it to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve and Enjoy:
- Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Garnish with additional chopped parsley, if desired.
Enjoy your delicious Meatball Casserole, a comforting Italian-American dish that’s perfect for a family dinner!