Meatball Marinara Bubble Bake

5 from 4 votes
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This Meatball Marinara Bubble Bake is comfort food at its finest! Everything you love about a meatball sub, but as a flavor-packed casserole. Enjoy!

Bubble bake on a spoon.
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Three Cheers for Bubble Bake!

This is our very first bubble bake here on The Cheese Knees and we are READY FOR IT. There are many flavor variations of bubble bakes on the internet, and today we’re sharing a meatball marinara bubble bake that comes together in 6 ingredients — can you say HIP HIP HOORAY?!

What is Bubble Bake?

Bubble bake gets its name because it combines pieces of biscuit dough with other ingredients and then is baked to bubbly perfection. For this bubble bake we’re using meatballs, marinara sauce and cheese — YUM!

why you’ll love it!

6 ingredients: this bubble bake comes together with 6 simple ingredients!

Ready in under an hour: that is right! From start to finish, you’ll have this bubble back on the table in 60 minutes, making it a great weeknight meal.

Serves a crowd: looking to serve a crowd or a big family? This is your meal!

Ingredients for bubble bake in bowls.

Bubble Bake Ingredients

This bubble bake comes together in 6 easy ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Refrigerated biscuits: you’ll be cutting the biscuits into 1/4 chunks and placing right into the casserole to bake to chewy yummy perfection. 
  • Marinara sauce: any jarred marinara sauce will work. or feel free to sub for your favorite pasta sauce. 
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese: feel free to shred your own or use a pre-shredded variety.
  • Frozen beef meatballs: any frozen meatball will work, so choose your favorite here. 
  • Italian seasoning: our sister site Fit Foodie Finds has an amazing homemade Italian seasoning that we love to use for this bubble bake.
  • Fresh basil: you’ll be thinly slicing the basil and garnishing your bubble bake when it’s ready to serve.
a white rectangular baking dish on a white background.

Our Favorite

Casserole Dish

This le creuset casserole dish is our all time favorite casserole dish! The white color rocks, it has a cover, and it’s great for so many dishes.

How to Make Bubble Bake

Preheat & Prep

Preheat the oven to 350ºF and spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray. 

Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces and place them into a large bowl. Next, add the marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella, meatballs, and Italian seasoning, and fold everything together.

Assemble Bubble Bake

Transfer the biscuit mixture into the casserole dish and top with the remaining mozzarella. 

Bake, Garnish & Enjoy!

Bake for 45 minutes uncovered. Let rest for 10 minutes, and then garnish with thinly sliced basil before serving. Enjoy!

Bubble bake in a casserole dish prior to baking.

Easy Ingredient Swaps

Marinara sauce –> Any pasta sauce

Beef meatballs –> Any frozen meatballs

Shredded mozzarella –> Any shredded Italian cheese blend

Add Ins

  • Diced bell peppers
  • Diced onions
  • Sliced black olives
Bubble bake covered in shredded cheese in a casserole dish.

What to Serve with Bubble Bake

We love serving this bubble bake along side a fresh salad! Some of our favorites include:

Bubble bake after it comes out of the oven.

Storage

After the bubble bake is baked, let cool completely before placing in an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

To reheat the bubble bake, let it come to room temperature and then reheat covered in the oven at 350ºF until the cheese melts and the middle of the bubble bake is warm.

To Freeze Bubble Bake

Let the bubble bake cool completely before covering the entire dish with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Place in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To reheat the bubble bake, let the dish come to room temperature and then reheat covered in the oven at 350ºF until the cheese melts and the middle of the bubble bake is warm.

Bubble bake garnished with fresh basil in a casserole dish.
5 from 4 votes

Bubble Bake

This Meatball Marinara Bubble Bake is an amazingly easy weeknight meal that tastes just like a meatball sub. Enjoy!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Servings: 9
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Ingredients 

  • 16.3 oz. can refrigerated biscuits
  • 24 oz. jar marinara sauce or your favorite pasta sauce
  • 8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese, divided (~2 cups)
  • 1 lb. frozen beef meatballs
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ cup fresh basil, thinly sliced

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF and spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  • Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces and place them into a large bowl.
    a white bowl filled with cheese, mushrooms, and other ingredients.
  • Next, add the marinara sauce, 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella, meatballs, and Italian seasoning. Fold together gently so that everything is covered in sauce and the biscuits keep their shape.
    a white bowl filled with chicken in a red sauce.
  • Transfer the biscuit mixture into the casserole dish and top with the remaining mozzarella.
    a casserole dish topped with cheese and tomatoes.
  • Bake for 45 minutes uncovered. Let rest for 10 minutes.
    a white casserole dish with a dish of pasta and cheese.
  • Garnish with thinly sliced basil before serving.
    a casserole dish filled with meatballs and cheese.

Watch It

Nutrition

Calories: 415 kcal, Carbohydrates: 30 g, Protein: 18 g, Fat: 25 g, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 5 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About Emily Richter

Emily spent the first 10 years of her career in marketing and advertising roles and started side-hustling with our sister site, Fit Foodie Finds, in Fall of 2015. She joined the team full-time in the Spring of 2018. Em lives in Minneapolis with her husband and dog, and manages The Cheese Knees (and Fit Foodie Finds) business operations as well as all things sponsorships and brand collaborations.

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