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Cheesy baked tortellini casserole with meat sauce in a baking dish

Cheesy Baked Tortellini Casserole With Meat Sauce

A comfort dish featuring tender tortellini, rich meat sauce, and plenty of melty cheese, perfect for feeding a crowd on busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 500
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Sauce
  • 1 lb cheese tortellini Cooked until al dente
  • 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage Can use either or a mix of both
  • 1 small onion, chopped To be cooked with the meat
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced To be cooked with the meat
  • 24 oz marinara sauce For the meat sauce
  • 1 cup ricotta or cottage cheese Add for creaminess if desired
Cheese Toppings
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella For layering
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan For layering
  • 1 to 1.5 cups additional mozzarella For the top layer
Seasonings
  • to taste salt For seasoning the sauce
  • to taste pepper For seasoning the sauce
  • to taste Italian seasoning For flavor enhancement in the sauce

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Cook the tortellini in salted water just until al dente, then drain well.
  3. In a large pan, brown the ground beef or Italian sausage and drain the fat.
  4. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the pan and cook until soft.
  5. Stir in the marinara sauce, pinches of salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Let the sauce simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
  6. In a large bowl, mix the cooked tortellini with the meat sauce and add ricotta or cottage cheese if desired.
Assembly and Baking
  1. Pour half of the tortellini mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. Sprinkle with 1 cup shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan.
  3. Add the rest of the pasta mixture and top with 1 to 1.5 cups of mozzarella.
  4. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
  5. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
  6. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Do not overcook the tortellini for a better texture. Adjust salt and seasoning to taste before mixing with pasta. Use a mix of cheeses for enhanced flavor.