Description
This Baked Tortellini Casserole is a comforting and hearty Italian-inspired dish combining tender cheese tortellini with a rich tomato and ground beef sauce, topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for family dinners, it’s easy to prepare and baked until bubbly and golden.
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 prepare for baking the casserole.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onions and sauté until they become soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Brown the Ground Beef: Add the lean ground beef to the skillet with the onions and garlic. Cook until the beef is browned thoroughly and no longer pink, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
- Add Tomatoes and Seasonings: Stir in the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce into the beef mixture. Season with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and dried Italian seasoning. Mix well to combine all flavors.
- Combine Tortellini and Cheese: Add the uncooked fresh cheese tortellini into the meat sauce mixture, then stir in 1 1/2 cups of the grated mozzarella cheese until evenly distributed.
- Transfer to Casserole Dish: Pour the entire mixture into a large casserole dish, smoothing it out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese over the top for a cheesy crust.
- Bake Covered: Cover the casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil to prevent moisture loss. Bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes or until the casserole is hot, bubbly, and the cheese on top is melted.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can add fresh basil or oregano to the tomato sauce.
- If fresh tortellini is unavailable, frozen tortellini can be used but may require slightly longer baking time.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes after baking before serving to allow it to set.
- Use whole milk mozzarella for best melting and flavor.
- This dish can be prepared in advance and refrigerated before baking; just add a few extra baking minutes if cold.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
