Air Fryer Meatball Casserole is one of those dinners I throw together when I need something hearty without a lot of fuss. Tender homemade meatballs nestled into saucy marinara pasta under a thick, bubbly blanket of melted mozzarella and Parmesan that comes out of the air fryer golden, stretchy, and completely irresistible. Cheesy, rich, and comforting in every single scoop.
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It’s my go-to for Sunday dinners, weeknight family meals, and potlucks because it feeds a crowd, travels well right in the baking dish, and always gets the best reactions at the table. The leftovers reheat beautifully too, which makes it just as good the next day. Store covered in the fridge for up to 4 days and reheat in the air fryer or microwave until hot and bubbly.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.
How to Make Air Fryer Meatball Casserole with Step-By-Step Instructions
Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.
Let me walk you through each step so your air-fried meatballs and cheesy pasta casserole come out perfectly every time. It’s such an easy meatball recipe to pull together on a busy weeknight.
Mix and Season the Meat
In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
It makes the whole process so much easier. You can use all ground beef for a classic, beefy flavor, or swap in half ground pork for meatballs that are extra juicy and flavorful.
Shape the Meatballs
Shape the mixture into golf-ball-sized meatballs and place them in a 9×13 baking dish that fits in your air fryer. A good kitchen scale helps you keep all the meatballs consistent in size so they cook evenly.
If you’re short on time, frozen meatballs work as a swap here too; just skip straight to the layering step.
Air Fry the Meatballs
Place the baking dish in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 375°F for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking halfway through, until browned and cooked through. I love using my basket-style air fryer for this step because the baking dish fits flat, and the meatballs brown up beautifully on all sides.
Use a meat thermometer to check that the centers hit 165°F so you know they’re fully cooked without guessing.
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
Includes ad-free recipes like:
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
Layer the Casserole
Lightly grease the baking dish. Add a layer of marinara sauce, then the cooked pasta with sauce, meatballs, the remaining sauce, and cheeses. A silicone spatula is great for spreading the marinara evenly across the bottom without scratching your dish.
I like using a generous handful of mozzarella on top, along with Parmesan, because the two together give you that perfect stretchy, golden finish. Feel free to swap the penne for spaghetti broken into shorter pieces if that’s what you have on hand.
Bake the Casserole
Cover loosely with foil and air fry at 350°F for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for another 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. A pair of heat-resistant oven gloves makes removing the foil mid-cook so much safer and easier.
Those last 5 minutes uncovered are what give the top that slightly crispy, golden finish that makes every bite so tasty.
Rest, Garnish, and Serve
Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley. Enjoy!
If you’re bringing Air Fryer Meatball Casserole somewhere, keep it in the baking dish covered tightly with foil. Wrap the dish in a thick kitchen towel to hold the heat, or use an insulated casserole carrier for longer trips. It arrives warm and ready to serve with no extra effort.
Air Fryer Meatball Casserole
Add Preferred SourceEquipment
Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground beef or half beef, half pork
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Casserole:
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups cooked penne pasta
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.1 pound ground beef, ½ cup breadcrumbs, ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, Salt and pepper
- Shape into golf ball–sized meatballs and place on a 9×13 baking dish that fits in your air fryer.
- Place the baking dish in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 375°F for 10–12 minutes, shaking halfway through, until browned and cooked through.
- Lightly grease the baking dish. Add a layer of marinara sauce, followed by the cooked pasta with sauce, meatballs, remaining sauce, and cheeses.3 cups marinara sauce, 2 cups cooked penne pasta, 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Cover loosely with foil and air fry at 350°F for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for another 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.Fresh parsley
Notes
- Don’t overmix the meat: Mix the meatball ingredients just until combined so the meatballs stay tender and don’t turn dense or tough after cooking.
- Keep the meatballs uniform: Roll them to the same size so they all finish cooking at the same time during the air-fry step.
- Shake halfway through: When air frying the meatballs at 375°F, shake the dish or turn the meatballs at the halfway mark to get even browning on all sides.
- Grease the dish before layering: Lightly grease the baking dish before adding the marinara layer to prevent the pasta and sauce from sticking and make cleanup much easier.
- Loosely cover with foil: When you cover the casserole for the first 10 minutes at 350°F, keep the foil loose so steam can escape and the cheese doesn’t stick to it.
- Flash-freeze for meal prep: If you’re freezing individual portions, let the casserole cool completely, then freeze the servings on a parchment-lined sheet for 1 hour before transferring to containers so they don’t clump together.
Nutrition
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
Includes ad-free recipes like:
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
How to Store Leftovers
Let the casserole cool completely before storing. Transfer leftovers into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. I always use a set of airtight glass containers for this because they go straight from the fridge to the microwave without any fuss.
When you’re ready to eat, reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes or pop the whole dish back in the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes until heated through and the cheese is melty again. For longer storage, freeze individual portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating so the pasta doesn’t turn mushy. The meatballs and sauce hold up really well after freezing, so this is a great recipe to make in a big batch and stash away for busy nights.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Meatball Casserole
It’s filling on its own, but a simple side makes the whole meal feel complete. A crisp green salad dressed with Italian vinaigrette is my first choice because the acidity cuts right through the richness of the cheese and marinara. Garlic bread is another classic pairing that’s hard to beat, and it’s perfect for scooping up any extra sauce left in the dish.
If you want to round out the meal, roasted vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, or broccoli pair well with the Italian flavors, and steamed green beans or a light Caesar salad are great for balancing the richness.
More Easy Recipes for You to Try at Home
I think you’ll also love these other easy air fryer casserole recipes I’ve been making lately.
