Description
This Baked Tortellini Casserole is a hearty and comforting Italian-inspired dish featuring fresh cheese tortellini baked in a rich homemade meat sauce with mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a family dinner, it combines tender ground beef, flavorful tomato sauce, and melty cheese baked to bubbly perfection.
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 kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Main
- 24 oz package of fresh cheese tortellini
- 3 cups freshly grated mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onions and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Brown Ground Beef: Add the lean ground beef to the skillet with the onions and garlic. Cook, breaking up the meat until it is fully browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Make Sauce: Stir in crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Season with dried Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Simmer for 5 minutes to combine flavors.
- Add Tortellini and Cheese: Stir in the uncooked fresh cheese tortellini and 1 1/2 cups of the grated mozzarella cheese into the sauce, mixing gently to coat.
- Transfer to Casserole Dish: Pour the mixture into a large casserole dish, spreading evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
- Cover and Bake: Cover the casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven at 350 degrees F for about 40 minutes, or until the tortellini is cooked through and the casserole is hot and bubbly.
Notes
- This baked tortellini is a quick, cheesy casserole ideal for weeknight dinners or casual get-togethers.
- Using fresh tortellini ensures a tender texture after baking without becoming mushy.
- Feel free to substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter variation.
- To add veggies, sauté chopped spinach or mushrooms with the onions.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat beautifully.
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
