Cheesy Baked Tortellini Casserole With Meat Sauce: Easy Recipe
Cheesy Baked Tortellini Casserole with Meat Sauce delivers lasagna-level comfort using cheese tortellini pillows in creamy meat sauce topped with bubbling mozzarella. One-pan pasta bake magic blending al dente tortellini chew with rich beefy tomato creaminess. Ultimate weeknight crowd-pleaser feeding hungry families with zero leftovers.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 45 mins
- Yield: 6-8 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Cheesy Tortellini Casserole: 20 oz package cheese tortellini (fresh or frozen) 1 lb ground beef (or Italian sausage) 24 oz jar marinara sauce 8 oz cream cheese (cubed) 2 cups shredded mozzarella ½ cup grated Parmesan 3 garlic cloves (minced) 1 tsp Italian seasoning Salt & pepper (to taste) Olive oil spray Optional Add-ins: ½ cup ricotta dollops Fresh basil garnish
Instructions
1. Preheat 350°F. Spray 9×13 baking dish. Cook tortellini al dente per package (slightly undercook). Drain, set aside. Large skillet medium-high: Brown ground beef + garlic 7-8 mins. Drain fat. Stir in Italian seasoning + salt/pepper. Add marinara sauce + cream cheese cubes. Simmer 3-4 mins whisking until creamy smooth sauce forms. Toss tortellini in sauce until coated. Transfer to baking dish. Top evenly mozzarella + Parmesan. Bake uncovered 20-25 mins bubbly golden. Optional broil 2 mins extra brown. Rest 5 mins. Garnish basil. Serve family style.
Notes
Al dente tortellini = perfect bake chew not mush. Cream cheese = lasagna-style creamy sauce secret. Fresh tortellini = superior tender texture. Frozen straight to bake = 30 min meal hack. Italian sausage swap = spicy flavor upgrade. Ricotta dollops = authentic lasagna layers. Make-ahead: Assemble bake later perfect. Freezer: Uncooked foil pan 2 months. Double cheese top = pull-stretch perfection. Leftovers breakfast scramble superstar.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: cheesy tortellini casserole, baked tortellini meat sauce, creamy tortellini bake, easy pasta casserole