Looking for an easy dinner idea that you can make on busy weeknights? Try this simple baked ziti with meatballs that your whole family will love. Made with frozen meatballs, it’s the perfect shortcut meal when you need dinner on the table fast.
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Now that the days are finally starting to warm up and get busier around here, I’ve been focusing on making shortcut recipes that I can get on the table quickly for easy family dinners. And, some of my very favorite shortcut meals involve using frozen meatballs.
Frozen meatball recipes are not only budget-friendly, but they can be added to a variety of dishes for a hearty dinner your whole family will enjoy (even picky eaters). So, I thought I would share this super simple baked ziti recipe that uses frozen meatballs for a delicious weeknight pasta bake that’s perfect for busy families.
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Why You Will Love This Baked Ziti with Meatballs
- Perfect shortcut meal for busy weeknights, because it’s so simple to throw together using minimal ingredients for a quick dinner idea you can make any night of the week.
- Kid-friendly recipe, as even picky eaters love this delicious pasta dish with melted cheese on top.
- Budget-friendly because it’s made with simple ingredients like pasta, jarred sauce, frozen meatballs, and shredded cheese.
- Ideal for potlucks when you need a hearty meal to share that will feed a crowd.
- Great make-ahead freezer meal as it reheats easily and can be stored for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Baked Ziti with Meatballs
Ingredients for Baked Ziti with Meatballs
You will love how simple this baked ziti with frozen meatballs is to make. It’s perfect for super busy nights when you need dinner on the table fast with no fuss.
You will need:
- Ziti
- Pasta Sauce
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese
- Frozen Meatballs
- Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper
How to Make Easy Baked Ziti with Meatballs
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Boil the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set to the side.
- Meanwhile, simmer the frozen meatballs in the pasta sauce for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
- Combine the pasta, meatballs, and sauce with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Pour into the baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving and enjoy!
Variations:
- Love veggies? Add in some chopped onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, or zucchini.
- Substitute the pasta sauce for Alfredo sauce for an extra creamy pasta dish.
- Switch out the frozen meatballs for pepperoni or shredded rotisserie chicken.
- Use homemade pasta sauce instead of jarred sauce and homemade meatballs instead of the frozen meatballs.
Storage and Leftovers:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- You can also freeze this casserole. Just make sure you let it cool completely before you put it in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- To reheat from the refrigerator, you can microwave or reheat in the oven to warm. Thaw overnight if it’s frozen, then bake covered at 350° for 20-30 minutes or until heated through.
Looking for more easy weeknight dinner ideas?
- Shortcut Chicken Parmesan Bake
- Easy Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
- Shortcut Rotisserie Chicken Alfredo Bake
- 22 Quick and Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners
Baked Ziti with Meatballs
Ingredients
- 16 ounces ziti pasta
- 1 24-28 ounce jar pasta sauce
- 25 frozen meatballs fully cooked
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Boil the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set to the side.
- Meanwhile, simmer the frozen meatballs in the pasta sauce for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
- Combine the pasta, meatballs, and sauce with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Pour into the baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving and enjoy!
Notes
Variations:
- Love veggies? Add in some chopped onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, or zucchini.
- Substitute the pasta sauce for Alfredo sauce for an extra creamy pasta dish.
- Switch out the frozen meatballs for pepperoni or shredded rotisserie chicken.
- Use homemade pasta sauce instead of jarred sauce and homemade meatballs instead of the frozen meatballs.
Storage and Leftovers:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- You can also freeze this casserole. Just make sure you let it cool completely before you put it in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- To reheat from the refrigerator, you can microwave or reheat in the oven to warm. Thaw overnight if it’s frozen, then bake covered at 350° for 20-30 minutes or until heated through.
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