Description
Comforting cheesy baked tortellini with meat sauce brings Italian-inspired warmth to dinner tables everywhere. Rich layers of cheese-stuffed pasta nestled in savory marinara create a hearty meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Pasta:
- 1 lb ground beef (or Italian sausage, turkey, or plant-based meat crumbles)
- 1 lb cheese-filled tortellini (fresh, frozen, or dried)
Cheese and Sauce:
- 24 oz marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375°F and prepare a baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, ensuring complete cooking and draining excess fat.
- Incorporate diced onions and minced garlic into the meat, cooking until aromatics become soft and fragrant.
- Pour marinara sauce into the skillet, allowing the mixture to simmer and develop rich flavors for 5 minutes.
- Create the first layer of tortellini across the bottom of the baking dish, spreading evenly.
- Distribute half the meat sauce over the tortellini, then sprinkle a generous layer of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
- Repeat layering process with remaining tortellini, meat sauce, and cheese, ensuring the top is completely covered with cheese.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld and pasta to heat through.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbling.
- Allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes after removing from oven, which helps set the layers and intensify flavors.
- Optional: Garnish with fresh basil or parsley for added brightness and visual appeal before serving.
Notes
- Make this dish vegetarian by swapping ground beef with plant-based crumbles or mushrooms for a hearty alternative.
- Reduce calories by using low-fat cheeses and lean ground turkey instead of beef.
- Prepare the entire casserole ahead of time and refrigerate, then bake when ready to serve for convenient meal planning.
- Enhance flavor complexity by adding a splash of red wine to the meat sauce or incorporating fresh herbs like basil and oregano during cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg