This tortellini casserole is a hearty, comforting, delicious dish loaded with flavor. It's made with juicy ground beef and cheesy tortellini tossed in a rich marinara sauce baked under a layer of melted cheese.
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The Best Tortellini Casserole
If you love cheesy pasta coated in meat sauce, you're going to be obsessed with this baked tortellini casserole!
For being such a simple dish, it's irresistible. It has all the flavors of perfectly cooked tortellini pasta but with the convenience of being piled in a casserole dish and baked in the oven.
This recipe starts with ground beef and tender onions cooked in a rich tomato sauce. Fresh tortellini and mozzarella cheese are mixed with the beef, layered in a casserole dish, and topped with even more cheese.
The whole thing gets baked in the oven until the top is golden brown and the pasta is tender and loaded with cheesy goodness. Delicious!
As good as this pasta is alone, it's even better with some sides for a decadent dish. A few of my favorite side dishes to serve with baked tortellini casserole are this garlic bread and this La Scala chopped salad. Or you can serve it with this spaghetti sandwich for an extra hearty meal.
Why This Recipe Works
The flavor. From the homemade spaghetti sauce to the perfectly cooked ground beef, tender pasta, and melty cheese, every element of this dish is to die for!
It's easy to make. All you have to do is cook the ground beef and onions, add the rest of the ingredients to the skillet one by one, and layer everything in your casserole pan to finish in the oven. It's foolproof!
Family favorite. This is one of those recipes that kids and adults alike are sure to love. You can serve it at a family dinner or if you're hosting, and it'll always be a hit!
Ingredients
Another reason I can't stop making this baked tortellini recipe is it's made with really basic ingredients, most of which you probably have on hand already!
Check out everything you'll need to make baked tortellini casserole:
- 2 tbsps. of olive oil
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes
- 8 oz can of tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp. dried Italian seasoning
- 1 ½ tsp. salt
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 24 oz. package of fresh cheese tortellini
- 3 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
If you have to run to the store for tortellini, make sure to grab an extra package so you can make this tortellini bake next. It has many of the same flavors as this recipe, but it's made without the ground beef and homemade pasta sauce.
How To Make Tortellini Casserole
1. Prep work: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside.
2. Cook the onions and garlic: Add a little olive oil to a large skillet and sauté the onions until they become soft and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
3. Make the sauce: Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it apart, until it's browned on all sides. Once the beef is fully cooked, stir in the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning and mix.
4. Combine the rest of the ingredients: Stir in the uncooked tortellini and 1 ½ cups of shredded mozzarella cheese.
5. Assemble and bake: Transfer the pasta to the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Cover the tortellini casserole with foil and bake for about 40 minutes or until the cheese is hot and bubbly. Serve warm with garlic bread and a side salad, and enjoy!
Tips To Make The Best Recipe
- Swap ground beef for other types of ground meat or even sweet Italian sausage for a different flavor.
- Add vegetables, like fresh spinach, peppers, mushrooms, or olives, for a healthier casserole.
- Sprinkle the cheesy baked tortellini with red pepper flakes for a little spice.
- Make a creamy tortellini bake by combining tomato sauce with Alfredo sauce.
- Use an oven-safe skillet instead of a baking dish so you have one less dish to wash.
- Garnish the finished casserole with parmesan cheese and fresh basil for extra flavor.
How To Store Tortellini Casserole
In the fridge: Store leftover tortellini casserole in an airtight container or in the baking dish with a lid on and keep it in the fridge for 3-5 days.
In the freezer: Transfer the casserole to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze it for about 3 months.
Reheating: Put the tortellini back in a baking dish with some extra sauce and warm in the oven at 350°F for about 5 minutes or until fully warmed. Add more time if you're reheating a frozen tortellini bake.
More Recipes
- Spaghetti casserole
- Meatball sub casserole
- Johnny Marzetti casserole
- Baked spaghetti and meatballs
- Zucchini tomato casserole
- Chicken broccoli pasta bake
Cheesy Baked Tortellini Casserole
This tortellini casserole is a hearty, comforting, delicious dish loaded with flavor. It's made with juicy ground beef and cheesy tortellini tossed in a rich marinara sauce baked under a layer of melted cheese.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsps. of olive oil
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes
- 8 oz. can of tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp. dried Italian seasoning
- 1 ½ tsp. salt
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 24 oz. package of fresh cheese tortellini
- 3 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish, or something similar in size, with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large skillet, saute the onions in olive oil until soft. Add garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it apart until it's browned on all sides.
- Once the beef is cooked through, stir in crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Stir in uncooked, fresh tortellini and 1 ½ cups of mozzarella cheese.
- Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
- Cover tightly with foil and bake for about 40 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 489Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 938mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 5gSugar: 0gProtein: 38g
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