Mini Turkey Meatball Casserole
Baked Mini Turkey Meatball Casserole, a delicious Homemade Italian Comfort Food Recipe. Choose your pasta and make the perfect Family Dinner Dish.
What’s the best part about fall? Besides the cooler weather, holidays are just around the corner and of course anything and everything Apple and pumpkin! And of course don’t forget the Comfort Food.
This is an easy baked pasta recipe that comes together quite quickly even though you may need a couple of extra pots. But it will be worth it. Perfect turkey mini meatballs cooked to perfection in a delicious homemade sauce.
Recipe Ingredients
- White bread – crusts removed
- Milk – 2% or whole milk
- Parmigiano cheese
- Ground turkey or chicken
- Egg
- Garlic clove
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Salt
- Pepper
- Olive oil
- Pelati tomatoes – nothing added, also known as peeled tomatoes
- Oregano
- Basil – dried or you can use 5-6 fresh basil leaves
- Water
- Firm mozzarella – shredded (not bagged shredded)
- Parmigiano – freshly grated
- White sauce – homemade or store bought
- Pasta – short pasta
What is authentic Parmigiano?
Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is authentic or DOP (Denominazione di Origine Protetta which means Protected Designation of Origin), and Parmesan cheese is just an imitation of Parmigiano Reggiano. Reggiano is always made in Italy, while Parmesan can be made anywhere, there are no restrictions on using the name Parmesan. And don’t forget a less expensive but also a DOP choice is Parmigiano Grana Padano.
How to make a Meatball Casserole
Soak the bread in milk for about 2 or 3 minutes, then squeeze out moisture and crumble. In a medium bowl combine the crumbled bread with the ground turkey, parmesan cheese, egg, and spices, mix well. Form the mixture into very small meatballs.
In a large frying pan add some olive oil and brown meatballs on all sides. Remove the meatballs and set aside.
In the same pan add the tomatoes, garlic, spices and water, stir to combine then add the meatballs and gently combine. Cook until thickened.
While the sauce and meatballs are cooking, cook the pasta a little harder than al dent. Add the drained pasta to the sauce, gently combine, pour into a medium/large baking dish, drizzle with a simple white sauce (bought or homemade). You can omit the white sauce but believe me it is sooo good with it! Sprinkle with shredded firm mozzarella and freshly grated parmigiano.
Bake. Let the casserole sit for about 5 minutes before serving.
How to make a simple White Sauce
In a small pot over medium heat melt ½ tablespoon of butter, then add ½ tablespoon of flour and a pinch of salt, combine with a whisk, add ½ cup of milk slowly and continue to stir until very thick.
Why do Meatballs fall apart?
When making meatballs you need to use bread crumbs (usually) and eggs to mind them together. But too much bread crumbs will make them fall apart and not enough won’t hold them together.
What is the best past for this Baked Pasta Recipe?
I am going to say whatever pasta you prefer. We like a short ridgy pasta such as mezze penne, rigatoni or even mezze maniche, which I used in this recipe. But if you prefer spaghetti, then sure why not?
When cooking your pasta remember that about two cups of dried pasta will equal almost four cups of cooked.
More Delicious Baked Pasta Recipes
- Baked Creamy Cheesy White Sauce Gnocchi
- Homemade Creamy Baked Pancetta Macaroni
- Baked Macaroni Double Cheese
So if Fall has started to show her lovely face, then why not give a big welcome with this tasty Mini Turkey Meatball Casserole?! The ultimate Comfort Food. Buon Appetito!
Mini Turkey Meatball Casserole
Ingredients
FOR THE TURKEY MEATBALLS
- 2 slices white bread (crusts removed)
- ¼-½ cup milk (I used 2%)
- ½ cup parmigiano (freshly grated)
- 1 pound ground turkey or chicken
- 1 large egg
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1-2 dashes pepper
FOR THE TOMATO SAUCE
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cans pelati tomatoes (nothing added) (14 ounces each)
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon basil (if you prefer you can use 5-6 fresh basil leaves)
- ¼-½ teaspoon salt
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ½-¾ cup water
EXTRAS
- ½ cup shredded firm mozzarella
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmigiano
- ¼-½ cup white sauce (homemade or store bought)
- 4 cups cooked short pasta
Instructions
FOR THE MEATBALLS
- Soak the bread in milk for about 2 or 3 minutes, then squeeze out moisture and crumble. In a medium bowl combine the crumbled bread with the ground turkey, parmesan cheese, egg, and spices, mix well. Form the mixture into small meatballs.
- In a large frying pan add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and brown meatballs on all sides. Remove the meatballs and set aside.
FOR THE SAUCE
- In the same pan add the tomatoes, garlic, spices and water, stir to combine, then add the meatballs and gently combine. Cook until thickened.
- While pasta is cooking pre-heat the oven at 350F (180C) and lightly grease a medium to large baking dish.
- While the sauce and meatballs are cooking, cook the pasta a little harder than al dent. Add the drained pasta to the sauce, gently combine, then pour into the prepared baking dish, drizzle with a simple white sauce (bought or homemade). (You can omit the white sauce but believe me it is sooo good with it). Sprinkle with the shredded firm mozzarella and freshly grated parmigiano.
- Bake for about 15-20 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
How much pasta to use
Pasta usually doubles in size when cooked, so for this recipe you will need approximately 2 – 2 ½ cups of dried pasta to make 4 cups cooked.Best type of pasta to use
For this recipe I used mezze rigatoni but any short pasta type works like penne, ziti or mezze maniche.How to make a white sauce
To make a simple whit sauce – In a small pot over medium heat melt ½ tablespoon of butter, then add ½ tablespoon of flour and a pinch of salt, combine with a whisk, add ½ cup of milk slowly and continue to stir until very thick.How to store The Meatball Casserole
Be sure to wrap the casserole tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate. It will last up for about three or four days in the fridge. It can be re-heated in a 325F/175C oven for about 10-15 minutes or until heated throughout. The casserole can also be frozen, be sure to cool completely (and make sure the baking dish is freezer safe), cover with an airtight freezer safe bag and freeze for up to one to two months.Nutrition
Updated from April 28, 2015.
What size are the 2 cans of tomatoes, please!
Hi Connie, the cans should be 14 ounces each. Hope that helps. Take care!
Can I substitute Mutti Passata strained tomatoes for pelati canned tomatoes? Would I use the same amount, 28 oz. or less? Thanks.
Hi Anne, yes you can, maybe about 24 ounces and 1/2 cup of water, and cook as per instructions. I hope you enjoy it. Take care.
want to try making, but not sure what size can(s) to use for the tomatoes. It says 2 cans, is it 14-16 oz. or 28-32 oz. cans.
Hi Darlene, it should be 2 14 ounce cans. I hope you enjoy it. Take care!
Can this be made the day before, uncooked, stored in the refrigerator and then cooked the next day? Thanks!
Hi Denise, yes it can be pre-made, cover well and refrigerate then bake the next day. I hope you enjoy it. Take care.
What is your proportions for the homemade white sauce?
Hi Maryann, I do include the proportions in the post, I have now added them to the recipe. Hope that helps, let me know. Take care!
This looks amazing! i have to make this during the weekend. you have some amazing recipes!
but I do have one question for you Rosemary, can you make a Chicken boscaiola recipe, please. i am curious as to what mushrooms and ingredients you might use. Thank you.
Hi James, thanks let me know how it goes. I am pretty sure my MIL made that a couple of times, I will have to ask about it. Although there are 2 ways to make with a red sauce or white sauce. Let me know.
I’ve been gearing up to make this recipe for a week now. So excited! Looking it over again I have two questions:
1. Dried basil or fresh for the sauce?
2. The Parmesan for the meatballs, how much goes in there?
Hi Adrienne, you can use fresh or dry basil, and 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, sorry I updated the recipe, thanks for letting me know, and I hope you enjoy it. Let me know how it goes. Take care.
Oh my goodness, this was absolutely delicious! Thank you so much for such a great dinner dish!
Hi Adrienne, thanks so much so glad you enjoyed it. Have a great week.
Yum!! It looks wonderful. To me the kitchen is the heart of the whole house and not matter how many times we have family or guests and we’re getting the last minute things together we are in the kitchen talking about —–FOOD! I will definitely make this recipe. Grazie!