Description
This Classic Meatball Casserole features tasty meatballs, tender potatoes, and vibrant carrots, creating a comforting dish that’s simple to prepare and perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ lbs lean ground beef
- 1½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp dried minced onion
- ½ cup breadcrumbs – or panko crumbs or gluten-free bread crumbs
- 1 tbsp olive – or vegetable oil
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour – or 1 ½ tbsp cornstarch for a gluten-free option
- 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 cup water
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp dried basil leaves – or italian seasoning
- 1½ lbs baby potatoes – halved
- 1 cup carrots – chopped into 3-inch pieces
- 1 medium yellow onion – chopped into large chunks
- 2 celery stalks – chopped
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the lean ground beef with salt, black pepper, egg, dried minced onion, and breadcrumbs until just combined. Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs.
- Heat the cooking oil in a skillet over medium heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides, then remove and set them aside.
- Drain the excess fat from the skillet, leaving about 3 tablespoons. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute to form a light roux. Gradually whisk in the diced tomatoes, water, salt, sugar, and basil, stirring until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Add the halved baby potatoes, chopped carrots, yellow onion, celery, and the browned meatballs to the sauce. Stir gently to coat everything.
- Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish, cover it tightly with foil, and bake at 375°F for 1 hour, until the vegetables are tender and meatballs are cooked through.
- Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm with crusty bread or a side salad.
Notes
Feel free to add other vegetables like bell peppers or zucchini for extra flavor.
This dish can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before serving.
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 80mg