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

What is the secret to firm meatballs? ›

Massage your meat

Get your hands into your mixing bowl and combine the ingredients for your meatballs using your fingers. The heat from your hands will help release the proteins in the meat which will in turn help the mixture stick together when it cooks. Don't overmix, just a few minutes will do.

Why do you chill meatballs before baking? ›

Chill your meatballs: refrigerating your meatballs an hour before cooking helps them hold their shape throughout the cooking process. They can chill in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking, making meatballs a great make-ahead dish, too.

Are meatballs better baked or cooked in sauce? ›

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!

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

You can also substitute with crushed pork rinds, almond flour or sunflower seed flour. I do not recommend coconut flour, as it will make the meatballs very dry. Heavy whipping cream: Conventional meatballs call for milk, but heavy whipping cream does the same thing with fewer added carbs.

What does adding milk to meatballs do? ›

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.

Do meatballs get softer the longer you cook them? ›

Tenderizing the Meat:

As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.

Is it better to bake meatballs at 350 or 400? ›

A good rule of thumb is to bake meatballs for 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees fahrenheit. Every oven is different so the cooking time will not be the same for everyone.

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

Should I roll my meatballs in flour before baking? ›

A traditional size for this sort of meatball is 2 to 3 inches across, but you can make them any size you want. Once you roll the meatball in your hands, roll it in the flour to give it a good coating. Set each one on a baking sheet as you work.

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.)

What's the difference between Italian style meatballs and regular meatballs? ›

Italian-style meatballs often include additional ingredients such as milk, olive oil, ground pork, fresh parsley, red pepper flakes, Italian herb seasoning, and sometimes a combination of ground beef, veal, and pork [2].

What is a substitute for 1 cup of heavy cream? ›

If you have butter and milk (whole milk or even half-and-half work best), you can make your own heavy cream substitute. To make 1 cup of heavy cream, melt 1/4 cup of butter and slowly whisk in 3/4 cup milk. This works for most baking or cooking recipes that require heavy cream, but it will not whisk into stiff peaks.

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.

What is a substitute for Parmesan cheese in meatballs? ›

Asiago cheese is closest to Parmesan, but this cheese is actually a bit sweeter. It's a semi-hard yet smooth cheese with a slightly nutty flavor. Asiago offers a mild sharpness that doesn't overwhelm, but rather accents a mellow vegetable or meat dish.

How do you make meatballs more solid? ›

I add ground pork (around 30%) to my meatballs to create a more solid meatball. And don't over add bread crumbs, too much of a good thing can make it fall apart. Sometimes, I add Italian sausage in place of straight pork.

How do you solidify meatballs? ›

  1. Use extra eggs as a binder. I doubled the egg binder to make sure the meat held together. ...
  2. Add melted butter to the meat if it's less than 80/20. Low fat meatballs fall apart in the cooking process. ...
  3. Chill the meatballs or freeze them. Cold meatballs hold together better.
Jun 26, 2012

What makes meatballs more dense? ›

A small amount of breadcrumbs, no more than 1/4 cup of fine crumbs per pound of meat, hold in the juices. Adding, more bread crumbs makes for a heavy and dense meatball so keep the bread crumbs to a minimum. *I recommend ground meat that has at least 20% fat to create the right texture and taste.

What binds meatballs together? ›

How to stop meatballs from falling apart. 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.

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