This skillet meatball pasta is an easy 30-minute dinner made with tender meatballs, pasta, and a rich tomato sauce. Made with simple pantry staples, it’s a family-friendly meal that’s quick to prepare and is always a hit.
This skillet meatball pasta is an easy dinner recipe that comes together in just 30 minutes using simple, pantry-friendly ingredients. Made with homemade baked meatballs or store-bought meatballs, this is one of those dinners that makes the rotation because the ingredients are simple and inexpensive.
This recipe is perfect when you need a quick pasta dinner using ingredients you already have on hand. It’s quick enough for busy weeknights and filling enough to satisfy both kids and adults, which makes it a reliable go-to meal.
It has the flavors of spaghetti and meatballs or baked ziti, but comes together faster and with less prep, making it a great option when you want a tasty pasta dinner without the extra work.
“Great recipe! Used tomato basil pasta sauce instead of marinara, and part skim milk mozzarella slices.” – Chris
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Ready in just 30 minutes
- Made with simple pantry and fridge staples
- Easy to keep ingredients on hand
- Family-friendly and kid-approved
- Hearty and filling inexpensive dinner
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Pasta: I like to use a tubular pasta like rigatoni, penne, or ziti in this recipe.
- Pasta sauce: I like to cook onions and garlic to add to my sauce because it adds a nice layer of extra flavor to the pasta. If you have homemade sauce, feel free to sub it for the jarred kind.
- Meatballs: I use homemade meatballs if I have them. Otherwise, frozen meatballs (that have been cooked) will work just fine.
- Mozzarella: You can use shredded mozzarella cheese if you prefer.
How to make meatball pasta
Here you’ll find instructions and step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe. The full recipe, including ingredients, is given below.
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 F.
Step 1: Cook pasta for 1 minute less than package directions for al dente pasta.
Step 3: Meanwhile, heat a large oven-proof skillet over medium heat, and add in olive oil. Stir in onion and garlic. Cook for about 4-5 minutes, stirring regularly.
Step 4: Add in marinara sauce, cooked meatballs, and cooked pasta. Stir to combine.
Step 5: Top with mozzarella cheese.
Step 6: Bake for about 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted and pasta is hot and bubbly.
Serving suggestions
I like to serve this pasta with my breadsticks, garlic breadsticks, or garlic knots on the side to soak up all the extra sauce. I also like to serve a green salad on the side to add some fresh, lighter flavors to the meal.
Storage
Store any leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 4 days when properly stored in the fridge.
More easy skillet pasta recipes!
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Skillet Meatball Pasta
Equipment
- skillet
Ingredients
- 12 ounce dry shaped pasta like penne or rigatoni
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup finely diced white or yellow onion
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 25 ounce jar marinara sauce
- ½-1 recipe Baked Meatballs or 16-32 meatballs of your choice
- 8 ounces shredded whole-milk mozzarella
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Cook pasta for 1 minute less than package directions for al dente pasta.12 ounce dry shaped pasta
- Meanwhile, heat a large oven-proof skillet over medium heat, and add in olive oil.1 tablespoon olive oil
- Stir in onion and garlic. Cook for about 4-5 minutes, stirring regularly.1 cup finely diced white or yellow onion, 3 cloves garlic
- Add in marinara sauce, cooked meatballs, and cooked pasta. Stir to combine.25 ounce jar marinara sauce, ½-1 recipe Baked Meatballs
- Top with mozzarella cheese.8 ounces shredded whole-milk mozzarella
- Bake for about 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted and pasta is hot and bubbly.
Notes
- Pasta: I like to use a tubular pasta like rigatoni, penne, or ziti in this recipe.
- Pasta sauce: I like to cook onions and garlic to add to my sauce because it adds a nice layer of extra flavor to the pasta. If you have homemade sauce, feel free to sub it for the jarred kind.
- Meatballs: I use homemade meatballs if I have them. Otherwise, frozen meatballs (that have been cooked) will work just fine.
- Mozzarella: You can use shredded mozzarella cheese if you prefer.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
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Comments & Reviews
Chris says
Great recipe! Used tomato basil pasta sauce instead of marinara, and part skim milk mozzarella slices.
Kate says
Sounds delicious! Thanks!
Paula-Anne says
I made meatballs for this recipe and delish!
Kate says
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
Kasheta says
Perfectly delicious recipe for meatballs. The meat was tender and flavorful. My family loved it!
Kate says
Yay!! I’m so glad! Thank you for coming back to comment! =)
Caroline says
This is the perfect recipe for our leftover meatballs!
Kate says
Thank you!