Rating: 3.86
(148)

Meatball and Ravioli Casserole

December 3, 2024

Meatball and ravioli casserole is a comforting, hearty dish that brings together two beloved Italian favorites: meatballs and ravioli. This casserole is packed with flavor and texture, making it an ideal choice for a cozy family dinner or a meal that will impress your guests. The combination of savory meatballs, cheesy ravioli, and rich marinara sauce creates a satisfying, easy-to-make meal that’s perfect for any occasion.

To prepare this casserole, start by baking or pan-frying homemade or store-bought meatballs. The meatballs are typically made from ground beef or a blend of beef and pork, seasoned with garlic, herbs, and Parmesan cheese to create that savory flavor. While the meatballs cook, prepare the ravioli. You can use any type of ravioli you like, but cheese ravioli or spinach ravioli works particularly well, as it complements the meatballs and marinara sauce perfectly.

Once the meatballs and ravioli are ready, layer them in a baking dish, alternating between the ravioli and meatballs. Pour marinara sauce over the top, ensuring everything is evenly coated. Then, sprinkle a generous amount of shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the casserole, covering it in a cheesy, gooey layer.

Bake the casserole until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the top has turned golden brown. The ravioli absorbs the rich marinara sauce, becoming soft and tender, while the meatballs add a meaty bite that complements the cheesy pasta perfectly.

This dish is easily customizable by adding extras like sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, or olives to the layers. For a little extra richness, you can also drizzle some heavy cream or ricotta cheese between the layers for a creamy twist.

Serve the casserole with a simple green salad or garlic bread to round out the meal. Whether you’re cooking for a busy weeknight or a weekend gathering, meatball and ravioli casserole is an easy, delicious way to bring everyone together around the table.

Meatball and Ravioli Casserole
Meatball and Ravioli Casserole
3.86 from 148 votes
This Meatball and Ravioli Casserole is a comforting and hearty dish that combines tender meatballs and cheese-filled ravioli, all baked together in a rich tomato sauce topped with melted cheese.
Servings 1 people
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef for meatballs
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs Italian style
  • 1 egg large
  • 25 ounces frozen cheese ravioli thawed
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce store-bought or homemade
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder for seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder for seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  • In a bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until well blended and form into small meatballs.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the meatballs on all sides until fully cooked, then remove from skillet.
  • In a baking dish, layer the ravioli and cooked meatballs. Pour marinara sauce over the top, ensuring everything is covered with sauce.
  • Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese over the top.
  • Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
  • Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
  • Let it cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 650kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 35gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 1050mgPotassium: 700mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 20IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 25mg
Calories: 650kcal
Meal Type: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Casserole, comfort food, pasta
Cooking Method: Baked
Time: 30-45 Min
Level: Easy
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Join the Conversation
  1. User avatar august.ritchie59 says:

    3 stars
    I don’t know, it was kinda bland. Might need more spices or something. Not bad tho.

    1. 4 stars
      I totally get what you mean! I added a bit of red pepper flakes and it made a big difference. Give it a shot next time!

  2. User avatar Grunthos the Flatulent says:

    2 stars
    I thought ravioli were supposed to be boiled first? Just throwing them in raw seems weird.

  3. 5 stars
    This casserole is so easy to make! My kids loved it! Will make again for sure.

  4. 4 stars
    Just made this and I can’t believe how yummy it is! I added some veggies and it turned out great!

  5. User avatar ward.ruecker says:

    4 stars
    Made it last night but forgot the parmesan cheese 🤦‍♀️. Still turned out good tho. Just not cheezy enough.

  6. User avatar Ryan Carnation says:

    4 stars
    Is frozen ravioli good? I thought it was all gonna just clump together or something. But it was fine!

    1. 5 stars
      I was surprised too! Frozen ravioli can be super yummy if you cook it right. My family loves it!

  7. User avatar kiyoko.swaniawski1963 says:

    4 stars
    So simple but sooo good! Perfect for busy nights. I added some veggies though.

  8. User avatar dallas.bergstrom says:

    1 star
    I accidentally added 2 cups of salt, oops! Still ate it though. 🤦‍♂️

  9. User avatar cameron.fahey17 says:

    4 stars
    Mmm, cheesy goodness! I added some mushrooms and bell peppers to mine. So good! 😋

    1. 5 stars
      Sounds delicious! I love that you added mushrooms and bell peppers! Gotta try that next time!

  10. 4 stars
    I didn’t have parmesan so I used pecorino instead (same vibe right?). It came out a little saltier than expected, but honestly still delicious. Would recommend adjusting salt/pepper since cheese varies.

  11. User avatar logan.zemlak says:

    3 stars
    Why frozen ravioli? Fresh is way better, plus it takes longer to cook!

    1. 4 stars
      But frozen’s just so convenient! Can’t always make fresh. Plus, who has the time?

  12. User avatar avelina.schowalter2012 says:

    5 stars
    This casserole is delicious! My family loved it, especially the cheese on top.

    1. User avatar oPandariaNo says:

      5 stars
      I totally agree! The cheese makes everything better. Can’t wait to try this myself!

    2. User avatar vincenzo.kshlerin says:

      3 stars
      Looks good but how do you know it’s really delicious? Just because your family liked it doesn’t mean everyone will!

  13. User avatar randolph.abbott1970 says:

    3 stars
    I thought it was just ok. The meatballs didn’t hold together well for me. Might try another recipe next time.

  14. User avatar Genghis Khan says:

    3 stars
    I followed it exactly and it turned out… okay? Maybe my marinara was too sweet. The cheese got bubbly but the meatballs were a bit dense for me.

  15. User avatar louis.beer91 says:

    5 stars
    Best casserole ever! So gooey and cheesy, perfect for winter nights!

  16. 3 stars
    Honestly, it didn’t turn out as I expected. The meatballs were kinda dry. Maybe I didn’t cook them right? 🤷‍♂️

  17. User avatar MAGA2024.Trumpster says:

    5 stars
    Way better than I expected. I used a jar of marinara and it still tasted homemade. The garlic powder + onion powder gives a nice background flavor.

    1. User avatar royce.weber says:

      5 stars
      Totally agree—those garlic + onion powders really do the heavy lifting. I’ve used jar sauce too and it doesn’t taste “cheater” at all.

  18. User avatar adolfo.wilkinson says:

    1 star
    Meatballs are for italian not beef! Should use turkey or chicken meat! 🙄

  19. User avatar hildegard.rempel says:

    2 stars
    idk about this, sounds a bit too heavy… also ravioli? should be spaghetti.

  20. User avatar clementina.kunde76 says:

    2 stars
    Way too much cheese for my taste! It was dripping everywhere. yuck. Not making again.

  21. User avatar reatha.powlowski1982 says:

    4 stars
    Couldn’t get the meatballs to “small” enough because my hands are messy 😅 but they cooked through fine. I’d like a bit more guidance on size/weight.

    1. User avatar autumn.pagac says:

      5 stars
      Hey—messy hands are real 😄 I usually aim for meatballs about 1 1/2 inches wide (roughly the size of a large grape), which comes out to ~1 to 1.5 tablespoons of mixture each. If you want a weight: about 25–35g per meatball tends to work well.

  22. 3 stars
    375 for 30 minutes total seems a little low? Like the ravioli is already cooked, but the meatballs—are they fully cooked through at that point? Maybe I’m overthinking.

    1. User avatar harry.simonis8 says:

      4 stars
      I had the same thought at first, but since the meatballs are browned (and presumably cooked through in the skillet) they’re basically just finishing in the oven with the sauce. 30 min total for cheese + ravioli works out.

    2. 3 stars
      375 for 20 mins? seems too low. if your oven runs cool the meat could be under. i would do 25-30 uncovered total and make sure the center meatballs are like 160F.

  23. User avatar terminatorXYZ says:

    4 stars
    I’m skeptical about only baking 30 minutes—like, will the ravioli really heat through? In my case it did, but I had to extend by 5 minutes because my oven runs cool.

    1. User avatar CTRLplusW says:

      5 stars
      I was worried too, but mine heated through fine at 375°F. Only thing I changed: I made sure the ravioli were thawed and that the sauce covered everything completely.

    2. User avatar Ricarda Harber says:

      4 stars
      30 min total? Kinda fast lol. If your oven runs cool, yeah I can see needing extra time. I’d check the center—if the ravioli isn’t hot all the way, add like 5-10 min.

  24. 5 stars
    Tried this with homemade sauce, not store-bought, but it turned out great! Yum!

  25. User avatar dorthey.sawayn2003 says:

    2 stars
    I don’t know if I did it right… it was too salty for me.

  26. User avatar basementDweller says:

    3 stars
    The meatballs were too dry for my taste. Maybe less breadcrumbs next time? Not bad overall.

  27. User avatar crista.willms58 says:

    3 stars
    One thing though—25 oz ravioli thawed, ok… but who has time to thaw? I used frozen right in the dish and it turned out okay, just took longer to get bubbly cheese.

  28. User avatar wyatt.hills says:

    4 stars
    Not gonna lie, I’m skeptical about breadcrumbs in meatballs with ground beef—sounds bland. But the garlic/onion powders saved it.

    1. 5 stars
      I get what you mean—breadcrumbs can sound weird, but once you mix them with the egg and seasonings they actually help hold the meatballs together. Garlic/onion powder definitely makes a big difference. Next time I might add a pinch of Italian seasoning too, but this feels pretty solid.

  29. User avatar Barliman Butterbur says:

    3 stars
    It tasted fine, but my meatballs were a bit dry. I think I packed the breadcrumb mix too tightly and they didn’t stay juicy. Still, the casserole part saved it.

  30. User avatar Duncan Idaho says:

    4 stars
    I made something similar once and it was super filling. One tweak: I’d add Italian seasoning too—just to make it pop. Otherwise, solid.

  31. User avatar ozie.marvin says:

    5 stars
    Best casserole EVER! Can’t believe I waited so long to try this recipe! YUM!

  32. User avatar kendall.walker says:

    4 stars
    My family loved it, but I don’t trust store-made marinara 🤷‍♂️. Homemade is better!

  33. User avatar marcel.dicki says:

    5 stars
    yum! I’m so excited to try this. Love ravioli and meatballs! 😍

  34. User avatar freddie.stamm53 says:

    5 stars
    This sounds like pure comfort food. The combo of meatballs + ravioli + marinara is genius, and the extra bake to get bubbly/golden cheese is the right call.

    1. 5 stars
      Yes! The bubbly golden top is the best part 😄 I’ve made something similar but never layered it quite like this—definitely trying your bake time.

    2. User avatar monet.rowe says:

      3 stars
      Sounds good, but 20 + 10 mins feels a little short since the meatballs are beef. Also I’d maybe thaw the ravioli more—mine get mushy if I don’t. Still… I bet it’ll be tasty.

  35. User avatar geoWizard says:

    5 stars
    Wasn’t sure about the frozen ravioli, but it actually worked well! I added some fresh basil on top.

  36. User avatar abraham.mohr53 says:

    2 stars
    Meh. The seasoning is kinda basic and the breadcrumbs made the meatballs taste a little bland. I added chili flakes and extra parmesan and it got way better.

  37. User avatar lakia.herman39 says:

    5 stars
    Made this for a weeknight and it was shockingly easy. I used store-bought sauce and still tasted homemade. Would definitely do again.

    1. User avatar clint.cartwright says:

      5 stars
      Totally agree—made it last week and it was ridiculously easy for a casserole. I used jar sauce too and it still tasted great.

  38. User avatar Dr. Bebe Hills says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is the bomb! My kids gobbled it up! Meatballs are my favorite.

    1. 5 stars
      So glad to hear your kids loved it! Meatballs are definitely a win in my house too. 😊

  39. User avatar natalia.gleichner51 says:

    2 stars
    I tried it and my cheese didn’t get “golden” even after 10 minutes—more like melty. Could’ve been my oven being weird, but I’m giving it a fair review.

  40. User avatar gene.satterfield says:

    5 stars
    This casserole was amazing! Super cheesy and filling. I think I might add some veggies next time!

    1. User avatar thad.rempel74 says:

      5 stars
      I’m glad you loved it! The cheese is definitely the star of this dish. Adding veggies sounds like a great idea to make it even more nutritious! 🥦

3.86 from 148 votes
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