Description
This Easy Cheesy Meatball & Rice Dinner Casserole is a cozy one-pan meal loaded with juicy meatballs, creamy tomato rice, and melted mozzarella cheese. It’s perfect for busy weeknights and family dinners, and freezes beautifully. A hearty, kid-friendly comfort food dinner everyone will love.
Ingredients
1 pound fully cooked beef or turkey meatballs
1 cup uncooked white rice
2 cups beef broth
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.25 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
2. In a large bowl, combine the uncooked rice, beef broth, diced tomatoes with juices, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
3. Pour the rice mixture into the prepared casserole dish.
4. Place the fully cooked meatballs on top of the rice mixture and nestle them in slightly.
5. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 50 to 60 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
6. Remove the foil, sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top, and return to the oven for 10 minutes until melted and bubbly.
7. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
This recipe is freezer-friendly; store leftovers in individual portions.
You can substitute brown rice, but increase the cooking time by 15–20 minutes.
Add chopped spinach, mushrooms, or bell peppers for extra veggies.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (of 8)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 65mg