Description
This Baked Tortellini Casserole is a quick and cheesy comfort dish featuring fresh cheese tortellini baked in a flavorful homemade meat sauce with mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a family dinner, it combines tender pasta, savory ground beef, and a rich tomato sauce, baked until bubbly and golden.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 pound of lean ground beef (97/3)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes (or whole peeled tomatoes crushed by hand)
- 8 oz can of tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Pasta and Cheese
- 24 oz package of fresh cheese tortellini
- 3 cups freshly grated mozzarella cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add the diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Brown Ground Beef: Add the lean ground beef to the skillet with onions and garlic. Cook until fully browned and no longer pink, breaking it apart as it cooks.
- Prepare Sauce: Stir in the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce with the browned beef. Season the sauce with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and dried Italian seasoning. Simmer briefly to combine flavors.
- Combine Tortellini and Cheese: Stir in the uncooked fresh cheese tortellini and 1 1/2 cups of the grated mozzarella cheese into the sauce mixture, mixing well.
- Assemble Casserole: Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish and evenly sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese over the top.
- Bake: Cover the casserole tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the tortellini is fully cooked.
Notes
- This baked tortellini casserole is a quick and cheesy meal ideal for weeknight dinners.
- Using fresh tortellini provides a tender pasta texture, but if using frozen, adjust cooking time accordingly.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or sausage for different flavor variations.
- Ensure the casserole dish is tightly covered with foil to retain moisture during baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 569 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 1386 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 102 mg
