Meatball and Sausage Casserole Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Gillian

When making the balls, I found them very moist so: Instead of adding broth, I added about 1 tsp chicken powder out of a bouillon envelope. Also added some panko to the fresh crumbs. When done, was right consistency. Leave out rosemary next time and go easy on the nutmeg. A good do-ahead or gift.

Sacha

This is the best. I make it in the instant pot! Sauté the onions, garlic, green pepper. Add crushed tomatoes, wine, rosemary, bay leaf. Drop the meatballs in, cut up the sausage and add. High pressure for five minutes, let it sit for ten then release. I serve with some pasta. It’s tasty! Big hit with my fam.

Jim

Came up short on crushed tomatoes so we used one 14.8 oz can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes and one 14.8 oz can of tomato sauce. The rosemary was a pleasant change from the usual oregano and thyme. Instead of pasta we brushed thick slices of homemade sourdough bread with olive oil and grated garlic and broiled it until crispy around the edges. Great dinner for a cold night!

Lynn in New Jersey

This was great! I used beef for the meatballs and Trader Joe's sweet Italian chicken sausage (only 12 ounces). Sliced the sausage instead of cooking it whole. I served it on pasta. Delicious!

marmelade

When I went to the store for ingredients for this dish I was cooking for 8. By the home I got home it was 15. I made the meatballs smaller and sliced the sausage. Added extra tomatoes and a lot of penne. Delicious. Definite crowd pleaser.

Petra

Liked it a lot! I used ground turkey in the meatballs and left out the stock to give the meatballs more stability (turkey tends to be pretty moist anyway). Used 28oz can crushed tomatoes. As others suggested, cut up the sausage before cooking. Hearty and delicious.

lapheeluv

I doubled the recipe, and it worked out great. I browned the meatballs in two rounds. The first batch of meatballs were rather charred because I had the heat too high, and they ended up looking like falafel. Those meatballs turned out fine though because the long simmer time ensured that they ended up being moist. I chose both a red and green bell pepper, and put portobello mushrooms in. Based on another's suggestion, I used loose sausage. This recipe is forgiving and crowd-pleasing.

Arlene

Red wine is ok. Take sausage out of casing

Joe S.

Added an extra bell pepper, extra mushrooms, extra onion, extra garlic, extra meatballs, then it was perfect!

Sam

Fast & easy to throw together. Used frozen meatballs to cut down on prep time. Popped the meatballs in the oven while cooking everything else. My package of sausage came with 5 so used em all. My can of crushed tomato had more than 2 cups, I will use the full can next time and double the veggies (they were lacking). Also added a sprig of thyme to simmer with bay leaf in sauce. Served with rice and it was perfect. Fantastic as leftovers the next day.

Jude

Not bad, but pretty basic and a bit bland, both the meatballs (beef & pork) and the sauce. I doubled the garlic for the meatballs but it still wasn't enough. I would also add some Worcestershire for umami next time. The rosemary added a nice flavor to the sauce, different from the usual oregano. Again, I'd add Worcestershire and maybe 3-4 crushed canned anchovies to add depth to the flavor. Like in another cooking note, I took the pork out of the casing.

Mary

I made this last night served over Arborio rice. Was delicious. The meatballs do fall apart (as noted). We didn’t care because it worked with the rice.

Penny B

Absolutely delicious! Made as written except no chicken broth as I did not have any. Used hamburger meat and hot sausage. The only change I would make is cutting the sausage in half or quarters for easier eating. I also might do meatballs in oven as they tended to stick in pan and some broke apart.

heather

This is the best. I make it in the instant pot! Sauté the onions, garlic, green pepper. Add crushed tomatoes, wine, rosemary, bay leaf. Drop the meatballs in, cut up the sausage and add. High pressure for five minutes, let it sit for ten then release. I serve with some pasta. It’s tasty! Big hit with my fam.

Clara!

This was easy to make and delicious! The changes all sound interesting, but the basic recipe was great. I served it with garlic bread.

Schnu

I cooked this exactly as perrecipe except for tomatoes. I didn’t have crushed so i drained and hand crushed some San Marzanos. The meatballs were great-that bit of cumin and nutmeg added a lot of flavor. I didnt feel like the sausage brought anything to the party but that could have been my sausage. Now what I would do differently next time-I’d carry over the cumin into the tomato sauce and add some beans, either great northern or chickpeas; maybe a handful of kale.

laurikay

Wow!!! This has gone from a one-time experiment to a family staple. The veal meatballs are amazing, but substitute Costco frozen Italian meatballs and this is a doable weeknight dinner. We use 28oz of San Marzanos whole tomatoes, hand crushed, and serve with crusty bread. My family compliments this meal every time I make it.

MSWIS

Pierre Franey always comes through. This is so good. Works with pasta or polenta.

sheila

Great recipe. Lots of flavor as written. Major crowd pleaser. Made a few changes mainly to fill more tummies. Doubled the tomatoes and added broth to give it more liquid as I left it to simmer for an hour. Lots of time for flavors to come through. Would make again but only when expect to spend a couple hours in the kitchen. One change would be to cook onions and peppers longer than called for. I had mine sautéing for a good 10-15 minutes to soften and caramelize.

judy

I have to disagree. It was boring. I did use shiitakes for the mushrooms and even fancy shrooms and homemade bread couldn’t save this dish.

Doris Mare

Made it in a wide deep enamel pot, it gave more room to move things around.Recipe was perfect.

Mintie

Use quality fresh sausage. Serve over pasta or egg noodles. Play around with herbs and other flavorings.

Chris Minneapolis

I followed the recipe just as it is and it came out great. Meatballs should be moist and just gathered together with little pressure.

Jill

This is an excellent meatball recipe. I add them to my homemade tomato soup. One of these days I'll make the whole recipe.

Sam

Fast & easy to throw together. Used frozen meatballs to cut down on prep time. Popped the meatballs in the oven while cooking everything else. My package of sausage came with 5 so used em all. My can of crushed tomato had more than 2 cups, I will use the full can next time and double the veggies (they were lacking). Also added a sprig of thyme to simmer with bay leaf in sauce. Served with rice and it was perfect. Fantastic as leftovers the next day.

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Meatball and Sausage Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do you chill meatballs before baking? ›

This is especially important when working with pork, turkey and chicken, which are very wet when ground. Refrigerating gives the fat in the meat time to solidify, which helps maintain the shape. Chill your meatballs for anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes, depending on their size.

Can you use heavy cream instead of milk for meatballs? ›

whole milk or cream- Do not use low fat or skim milk. I prefer whole milk for a nice thick sauce texture without becoming a thick gravy. Whole milk for the sauce is a better option if you are serving the meatballs over egg noodles. However, if you want a thicker "gravy" like sauce, then use heavy cream.

Why do you put baking soda in meatballs? ›

Baking soda, otherwise known as sodium bicarbonate, appears often in köfte recipes. It raises the PH level of the meat, making it harder for the meat's protein molecules to bond. This in turn allows the meat to retain water as it cooks. And more water means a moist meatball.

Why do you put egg and breadcrumbs in meatballs? ›

Making them with just meat and seasoning alone can result in the meatball becoming dry or falling apart during cooking. For this reason, many recipes will include a binding ingredient like egg, and a filler like breadcrumbs.

What not to do when making meatballs? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Meatballs
  1. Not seasoning the meat.
  2. Not adding any moisture to the meat.
  3. Over-mixing the meat.
  4. Not shaping the meatballs correctly.
  5. Not forming evenly-sized meatballs.
May 1, 2019

Is it better to cook meatballs in the sauce or the oven? ›

The best meatballs are tender, baked and browned in a hot oven to seal in all the juices. Simmered in robust sauce for a couple of minutes ensures they soak up all of those saucy flavours, this is an easy dinner recipe that will be a hit with your family!

Is milk or egg better for meatballs? ›

Add Milk for Moisture

A little bit of milk will add moisture to your meatballs. (Many people think it's the eggs that add the moisture, but their role is to bind the meat, breadcrumbs, cheese and herbs.)

Why soak breadcrumbs in milk for meatballs? ›

The Key to Tender Meatballs

Here, we're soaking fresh or dried breadcrumbs in a little milk until the bread becomes soggy, then mixing that right into the meat. This binder (aka panade) helps add moisture to the meatballs and also prevents the meat proteins from shrinking and becoming tough.

Is it better to bake with milk or heavy cream? ›

Whole milk is a good choice for general cooking and baking, as it adds richness and flavor without being too heavy. Heavy cream and heavy whipping cream are best for recipes that require a thick and creamy texture, or for making whipped cream.

What is the secret ingredient to tenderize meat? ›

Whether hosting a holiday cookout, serving up some stir-fry or tackling game meats, baking soda is the go-to meat tenderizer to help make your steak, chicken or turkey silkier, juicier and yummier.

Why do people boil meatballs? ›

Boiled meatballs may sound like a recipe for blandness, but mastering this technique is a game-changer for home cooks. It's an easy method that produces tender, juicy, and wholesome meatballs, perfect for pairing with diverse sauces.

How do you make cooked meatballs taste better? ›

Allowing your meatballs to cook on the stove in a simmering sauce is a great way to flavor the meatballs and the sauce. Whether you are cooking your own meatballs or you bought them, you'll end up with the most tender meatballs. As they simmer, they will soak up so much of that delicious tomato sauce.

Why do my meatballs fall apart when I cook them? ›

Because meat shrinks when cooked, mince proteins are likely to separate and crumble unless bound together. Whether it's breadcrumbs or egg (or both), or simply salt, binding the mince is a crucial step in maintaining the softness of your meatballs while preventing them from falling apart.

Why do people put milk in meatballs? ›

When it comes to adding liquid to meatball mixtures, milk is often used for its versatility, depth of flavor, and richness. Without the use of milk, you may be faced with a plate of dry meatballs. Milk adds a certain level of moisture that helps produce perfectly tender meatballs.

What happens if you put too much breadcrumbs in meatballs? ›

Too many breadcrumbs can ruin the texture of your meatball though, turning it into something more like stuffing rather than a mini-meatloaf. It can also make the finished mixture loose, and it'll fall apart when cooking. Too few breadcrumbs, on the other hand, won't give you the desired filler effect.

How long should you chill meatballs before cooking? ›

Using your hands, gently form the meat mixture into 18 slightly larger than golf ball-sized balls. (Packing the meat mixture too tightly together will result in tough meatballs). Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.

What is the secret to making tender meatballs? ›

Milk: Adds moisture and tenderizes the meat, making our meatballs juicy and tender once cooked. Egg: Adds more moisture and helps the mixture firm up once cooked. Parmesan: My secret ingredient for the best meatballs! Parmigiano-Reggiano adds flavor and salt to our mixture.

Should meatballs be room temperature before cooking? ›

Remove the meatballs from the packet and allow them to get to room temperature before cooking. Place a pan over medium heat. Put a knob of butter or two tablespoons of oil in the pan and wait about 1 minute until the butter has melted or the oil smokes slightly.

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