Description
This Baked Tortellini Casserole is a comforting and hearty Italian-inspired dish featuring fresh cheese tortellini baked in a rich homemade meat sauce with melted mozzarella cheese. It’s an easy-to-make casserole that combines tender ground beef, savory tomato sauce, and plenty of cheesy goodness, perfect for a family dinner or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce and Meat
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef (97/3)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes (or whole peeled tomatoes crushed by hand)
- 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Pasta and Cheese
- 24 oz package fresh cheese tortellini
- 3 cups freshly grated mozzarella cheese (divided)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to get it ready for baking the casserole.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Add and Brown Ground Beef: Add the lean ground beef to the skillet with the onions and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is fully browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes.
- Prepare the Sauce: Stir in the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce into the skillet with the beef. Season the mixture with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and dried Italian seasoning. Simmer gently for 5 minutes to combine flavors.
- Add Tortellini and Cheese: Stir the uncooked fresh cheese tortellini directly into the sauce, followed by 1 1/2 cups of the grated mozzarella cheese. Mix everything evenly to combine.
- Transfer to Casserole Dish: Pour the mixture into a casserole dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese evenly over the top to create a cheesy crust.
- Bake Covered: Cover the casserole dish tightly with foil to keep moisture in. Bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and bubbly throughout.
- Serve: Carefully remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving to allow the cheese to set.
Notes
- This baked tortellini casserole uses fresh tortellini, which cooks perfectly in the sauce during baking, absorbing all the rich flavors.
- Use lean ground beef (97/3) to keep the casserole hearty but not too greasy.
- If you prefer, you can substitute part of the mozzarella with Parmesan for extra depth of flavor.
- Covering the casserole while baking helps keep the tortellini moist and prevents the cheese on top from burning.
- This dish reheats well and makes great leftovers for the next day.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 569 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 1386 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 102 mg
