Baked Ziti with Meatballs
This easy baked ziti with meatballs is the ultimate shortcut recipe for quick family dinners. Made with frozen meatballs and jarred pasta sauce, it's the perfect budget-friendly, kid-approved meal that even picky eaters love.
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.