Sometimes simple is best. Well simple with a side of meatballs! This penne pasta with marinara sauce recipe is a family favorite and has been for years, but adding the Freezer Meal Meatballs takes it to a whole other level.
Package the whole thing up together as a freezer meal and it’s a slam dunk. You can obviously modify this recipe and use store bought meatballs and sauce, but I’m trying to eliminate some of the crappity crap, can’t-even-pronounce-them ingredients from my kids’ diet. It does take more time in the kitchen, but when you make them as freezer meals, it doesn’t feel that way.
Freezer Meal – Penne with Marinara Sauce and Meatballs
Ingredients
2 pounds penne pasta
8 cups of your favorite pasta sauce {I used my heirloom tomato sauce recipe}
Freezer Meal Meatballs {optional}
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Cook pasta just short of package directions for al dente, drain, and return to pot. Drain. Add pasta sauce to pasta & stir. Divide pasta mixture between two aluminum 9×13 baking dishes, add desired amount of meatballs and sprinkle with cheeses.
To Cook w/out Freezing: Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly.
To Freeze: Cover with foil and place pan on a cookie sheet for a 1/2 hour so it freezes flat. When ready to use, leave foil on and cook from frozen for 45 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove foil and bake until cheese is golden and bubbly, about 15 minutes more.
*This recipe makes {2} 9×13 pans of Penne with Marinara Sauce and Meatballs.
Check out some of the “Mavis Approved” freezer meals I’ve made in the past:
- Roadside Sliders Recipe
- Easy Freezer Meal Meatballs
- Peach Crisp Recipe
- Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Chicken Cacciatore
- Chicken Casserole with Mashed Potato Topping
Links to freezer pans I commonly use:
- Aluminum Foil Pan Containers with Lids 8.5″ x 6″ x 3″
- Aluminum Foil Deep Pans 9″ x 13″
- Round 9 Inch Aluminum Foil Pans with lids
Find More of My Freezer Meal Recipes
Kajsa says
Thank you! I love your blog. Everything is so helpful and practical. 🙂
Rosaleen says
Mavis-
Every time that I see a Zaycon post or a batch of freezer meals, I wonder how many freezers you have? You have to have your act together to pull off all the things you do. Wow!
Kudos!
Mavis Butterfield says
I have 2. Here is a link to my last freezer clean out. –> http://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/cleaning-out-the-freezer-to-make-room-for-fall-crops/
Jess says
Do you cook to meatball first before putting them on the hotdish you will be freezing or are the meatballs uncooked?
Mavis Butterfield says
Hi Jess, I cook the meatballs first. You are essentially reheating the dinner entree in oven. 🙂
Erica Baumgartner says
Where did you get the foil pans that you use? They are the perfect size for freezing meals!
Thanks!
Mavis Butterfield says
Hi Erica,
You can find family size foil pans at Target, Costco and at the Dollar Store. 🙂
Judy says
I knew you could find the pans BUT I didn’t KNOW you could find them with the lids like that! I am gonna look for some! The holidays are SO busy around here.