Description
Homemade cheesy baked tortellini casserole delivers comfort in every delightful bite. Hearty pasta layers combine rich marinara, melted cheese, and herbal notes for a satisfying Italian-inspired meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (20 ounces / 567 grams) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 (24 ounces / 680 grams) jar marinara or pasta sauce
Cheese:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish:
- Fresh basil or parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F, preparing a welcoming environment for the upcoming culinary creation.
- Prepare tortellini according to package instructions, ensuring a perfectly tender texture. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- In a spacious skillet, brown the ground meat over medium heat, rendering out excess fat for a cleaner, more concentrated flavor profile.
- Incorporate marinara sauce into the cooked meat, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify through gentle heating.
- Craft the casserole foundation by spreading a thin meat sauce layer across the bottom of a greased baking vessel.
- Construct the first layer: nestle half the tortellini into the sauce, then generously distribute half the meat sauce and a blanket of mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat the layering process, creating a harmonious stack of pasta, sauce, and melty cheese.
- Shower the top with a delicate sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, then shield the creation with aluminum foil.
- Slide into the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to mingle and develop.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling masterpiece.
- Optionally, garnish with fresh herbs like basil or parsley to add a vibrant, aromatic finish before serving.
Notes
- Ensure tortellini remains perfectly al dente by cooking just until it floats and following package timing closely to prevent mushy texture.
- Opt for lean ground beef or turkey to reduce overall fat content while maintaining rich flavor profile.
- Customize cheese blend by mixing different varieties like provolone or fontina with mozzarella for enhanced depth and complexity.
- Make this dish vegetarian-friendly by substituting meat sauce with roasted vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, and bell peppers for protein-packed alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg