Quick & Hearty Potato Meatball Casserole Recipe for Cozy Nights

Crafting a delightful potato and meatball casserole brings comfort right to your dinner table.

Generations have cherished this rustic dish for its warming qualities.

Savory meatballs nestled between creamy potato layers create a satisfying meal everyone adores.

Robust ingredients combine to deliver maximum flavor with minimal effort.

Rich aromas will drift through your kitchen, promising a memorable dining experience.

Perfectly seasoned and baked to golden perfection, this casserole speaks directly to hunger and heart.

Follow along to master a recipe that turns simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

Why Hearty Potato And Meatball Casserole Feels Like Home

• Craft Hearty Comfort: Dive into a soul-warming dish that brings rich, satisfying flavors to your dinner table with minimal kitchen stress.
• Master Quick Cooking: Learn an easy technique that transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality meal without complicated chef skills.
• Crowd-Pleasing Dinner: Create a versatile recipe perfect for family gatherings, weekend meals, or feeding hungry friends with its universal appeal.
• One-Pan Wonder: Minimize cleanup and maximize convenience by preparing a complete meal in a single pan, saving time and reducing kitchen mess.

What You’ll Need For Hearty Potato And Meatball Casserole

• Ground Meat: A flavorful protein that forms the core of the meatballs and provides hearty texture to the dish.
• Breadcrumbs: A binding ingredient that helps hold the meatballs together and adds a light, crisp texture.
• Egg: An essential binder that helps the meatball mixture stick together and maintain its shape.

• Onion, Garlic: Classic flavor enhancers that add depth and richness to the meatball mixture.
• Parsley, Thyme: Fresh herbs that contribute a bright and earthy flavor profile to the dish.
• Salt, Black Pepper, Chili Pepper: Seasoning ingredients that provide balanced and complex taste.

• Potatoes: A hearty base ingredient that becomes golden and crispy when cooked.
• Red and Green Peppers: Colorful vegetables that add sweetness and nutrition to the casserole.
• Tomato Paste, Water: Key sauce ingredients that create a rich, coating liquid for the meatballs.
• Oil, Butter: Cooking fats that help brown the meatballs and potatoes and prevent sticking.

How To Cook Hearty Potato And Meatball Casserole

Step 1: Prepare Meatball Mixture

Grab a large mixing bowl and combine ground meat with finely chopped onions, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, black pepper, chili pepper, thyme, and fresh parsley. Use your hands to blend all ingredients thoroughly until they form a consistent mixture.

Step 2: Shape Delectable Meatballs

Roll the meat mixture into small, uniform meatballs using your palms. Ensure each meatball is compact and similar in size for even cooking.

Step 3: Brown Meatballs

Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Carefully place meatballs into the pan and cook until they develop a golden-brown exterior.

Rotate them gently to ensure all sides are evenly browned. Once done, transfer meatballs to a separate plate.

Step 4: Sauté Potato Slices

In the same pan with remaining oil and meat drippings, add sliced potatoes. Cook with butter, salt, black pepper, and chopped parsley until potatoes turn golden and crispy around the edges.

Step 5: Add Colorful Peppers

Introduce red and green pepper slices to the potato pan. Sauté until peppers become slightly softened and retain a slight crunch.

Step 6: Create Flavorful Sauce

In a separate bowl, whisk together tomato paste, water, and salt to create a rich, harmonious sauce that will bind the dish together.

Step 7: Combine Meatballs and Sauce

Return browned meatballs to the pan with potatoes and peppers.

Pour the prepared sauce over the ingredients, gently stirring to ensure everything is evenly coated.

Step 8: Simmer and Meld Flavors

Cover the pan and let the dish simmer on low heat for 20-25 minutes.

This allows the meatballs to cook completely and the flavors to blend beautifully.

Top Tips For Hearty Potato And Meatball Casserole

• Brown meatballs completely to seal in rich flavors and prevent bland taste during simmering.
• Choose lean ground meat for healthier version while maintaining delicious texture and reducing excess fat.
• Season potatoes generously with herbs like thyme and parsley to enhance overall dish complexity and depth of flavor.
• Use fresh vegetables like bell peppers for vibrant color and crisp texture that complements tender meatballs.
• Adjust sauce consistency by adding water or reducing liquid to create perfect coating for meatballs and potatoes.

Tasty Takes On Hearty Potato And Meatball Casserole

• Spicy Mediterranean Fusion: Replace thyme with oregano, add cumin and smoked paprika for a bold Mediterranean flavor profile with extra heat.
• Vegetarian Garden Delight: Swap meatballs with roasted chickpeas, incorporate zucchini and eggplant, use vegetable broth instead of water for rich plant-based version.
• Low-Carb Protein Power: Substitute potatoes with cauliflower florets, increase meat quantity, add extra protein-rich spices like turmeric and ginger for fitness enthusiasts.
• Herb-Infused European Style: Incorporate fresh rosemary, sage, and bay leaves, use white wine instead of water, sprinkle fresh basil before serving for an elegant European touch.

Great Pairings For Hearty Potato And Meatball Casserole

• Pair with Robust Red Wine: Select a bold Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah to complement the hearty meatballs and rich tomato sauce, cutting through the dish's richness with tannic structure.
• Serve with Crusty Garlic Bread: Create a perfect side that soaks up the delicious sauce, providing a crispy texture contrast and enhancing the meal's overall flavor profile.
• Complement with Fresh Mediterranean Salad: Prepare a light green salad with cucumber, tomatoes, and feta cheese to balance the casserole's heaviness, adding refreshing acidity and nutritional variety.
• Enhance with Herbed Yogurt Sauce: Whip a quick dip using Greek yogurt, chopped fresh herbs like dill and mint, which will provide a cool, creamy counterpoint to the warm, spicy meatball dish.

How To Store Hearty Potato And Meatball Casserole

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for 3-4 days, ensuring the container is sealed tightly to maintain freshness and prevent odor absorption.
• Freeze: Transfer casserole to freezer-safe containers or zip-lock bags. Remove excess air, label with date, and freeze for up to 3 months. Meatballs and potatoes will maintain good texture when properly sealed.
• Microwave Reheating: Place portion on microwave-safe plate, cover with damp paper towel. Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even warming. Check internal temperature reaches 165°F for food safety.
• Oven Reheating: Preheat oven to 350°F.

FAQs For Hearty Potato And Meatball Casserole

• Can I use ground turkey instead of beef for the meatballs?

Yes, ground turkey is a great lean alternative that works perfectly in this recipe and provides a lighter protein option.

• Is this dish considered spicy?

The recipe has a mild heat level from chili pepper, but you can adjust the amount of chili pepper to control the spiciness according to your preference.

• Do I need any special cooking skills to make this casserole?

No, this recipe is beginner-friendly and requires basic cooking techniques like mixing, forming meatballs, and sautéing ingredients.

• Can I prepare the meatballs and potatoes ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare the meatballs and slice potatoes in advance, storing them separately in the refrigerator to save time during meal preparation.

Hearty Potato and Meatball Casserole Recipe

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4.9 from 24 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Rustic potato and meatball casserole combines comfort and flavor in one delightful dish. Layers of tender potatoes, savory meatballs, and rich sauce invite you to savor a soul-warming meal that promises satisfaction with each hearty bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Meat and Protein:

• 700 grams (24.7 ounces) minced meat
• 1 egg
• 4 sprigs of parsley, finely chopped

Seasonings and Aromatics:

• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon chili pepper
• 1 teaspoon thyme

Vegetables and Cooking Components:

• 400 grams (14.1 ounces) potatoes, peeled and sliced
• 50 grams (1.8 ounces) butter
• Red pepper, sliced
• Green pepper, sliced
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 glasses of water (400 milliliters / 13.5 fluid ounces)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

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Instructions

1. Thoroughly blend ground meat with finely chopped aromatics including onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, and seasonings using gentle mixing techniques to maintain meat’s tenderness.
2. Craft compact, uniform meatballs approximately 1-inch in diameter, ensuring consistent size for even cooking.
3. Sear meatballs in a hot skillet with minimal oil over medium-high heat, rotating carefully to achieve golden-brown exterior, approximately 6-8 minutes.
4. Remove browned meatballs and reserve, maintaining skillet’s residual flavorful oils.
5. Introduce sliced potatoes into identical skillet, seasoning with butter and herbs, allowing them to develop crisp golden edges through careful browning.
6. Incorporate vibrant bell peppers, sautéing until edges become slightly caramelized and peppers retain slight crispness.
7. Prepare sauce by whisking tomato paste with water, creating a rich, harmonious liquid seasoning.
8. Reintroduce meatballs into skillet, gently coating with prepared sauce, ensuring complete coverage.
9. Reduce heat, cover skillet, and allow ingredients to simmer harmoniously for 20-25 minutes at low temperature, permitting flavors to meld and meatballs to cook thoroughly.
10. Let casserole rest 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to slightly thicken and flavors to intensify.

Notes

• Enhance meatball flavor by letting the mixture rest for 15 minutes before shaping, allowing spices to meld together.
• Prevent meatballs from falling apart by chilling them in the refrigerator for 10 minutes before cooking, which helps them hold their shape.
• Make the dish gluten-free by substituting breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs, maintaining the same binding properties.
• Reduce fat content by using lean ground meat or a mix of turkey and beef, creating a lighter version without sacrificing taste.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 510
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 42 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Protein: 24 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg