Italian Wedding Meatball Pasta Casserole
Italian Wedding Meatball Pasta Casserole captures the beloved soup’s essence in a creamy baked pasta layered with tender meatballs, wilted greens, and a rich Parmesan sauce. A golden, buttery panko topping adds crunch to every bite. Serve this cozy dish for a comforting weeknight dinner or a casual gathering when you want familiar flavors with a heartier twist.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook45 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Italian Wedding Meatball Pasta Casserole, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 54 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 24 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 57 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 22
- Heart Health
- 79
- Metabolic
- 53
- Digestive
- 26
- Inflammatory
- 31
- Performance
- 43
- General Wellness
- 1
Gather all the ingredients.
- 2
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly coat a 3-quart rectangular baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- 3
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until almost tender, about 10 minutes; drain and transfer to a bowl.
- 4
In the same pot, heat 2 tablespoons butter and the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and carrots. Cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until the carrots are nearly tender, about 7 minutes.
- 5
Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
- 6
Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture; cook and stir for 1 minute.
- 7
While stirring, slowly pour in the broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Continue to cook and stir until slightly thickened, 1 minute more.
- 8
Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
- 9
Add the kale; cook and stir until the kale is wilted, 1 minute.
- 10
Add the cooked pasta, meatballs, 2 tablespoons oregano, pepper, and salt to the pot; stir to combine. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
- 11
To make the topping: Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a bowl. Add the panko and stir to combine. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle the topping over the casserole.
- 12
Bake in the preheated oven until golden and heated through, about 20 minutes.
- 13
Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Top with the remaining 1 tablespoon oregano and the parsley.
- Calories 743.64 kcal High 37%
- Protein 22.75 g Good Source 46%
- Carbohydrate 76.33 g 28%
- Total Fat 39.75 g High 51%
- Saturated Fat 11.02 g High 55%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 50.59 mg Moderate 17%
- Sodium 954.79 mg High 42%
- Dietary Fiber 7.72 g Good Source 28%
- Total Sugars 4.68 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 254.51 mg Moderate 20%
- Iron 4.55 mg Good Source 25%
- Potassium 203.83 mg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin A 487.12 mcg Good Source 54%
- Vitamin C 114.07 mg Good Source 127%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Celery
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Italian Wedding Meatball Pasta Casserole is an Italian dinner recipe made with 18 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr, serves 8, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include All Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Butter, and Carrot. Each serving provides about 743.64 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Italian Wedding Meatball Pasta Casserole?
- It is an Italian casserole recipe made with 18 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
- What is Italian Wedding Meatball Pasta Casserole made of?
- The main ingredients are All-Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Butter, Carrot, Celery. The full list of 18 is above.
- What goes well with Italian Wedding Meatball Pasta Casserole?
- Explore these Italian side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Italian Wedding Meatball Pasta Casserole?
- About 1 hr in total: 15 mins to prepare and 45 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 743.64 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Italian Wedding Meatball Pasta Casserole easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 18 ingredients and 13 steps.
- Is Italian Wedding Meatball Pasta Casserole healthy?
- Italian Wedding Meatball Pasta Casserole has an easyChef Pro health score of 45/100. Per serving, it provides 743.64 calories and 22.75 g of protein, or 46% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, iron, vitamin A and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 954.79 mg (42% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 11.02 g (55% of the Daily Value). It contains Eggs, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Celery, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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