Ingredients
Pasta & Sauce
- 20 oz about 560g refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- ½ lb 225g ground beef or Italian sausage (optional)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Cheese Layer
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
Optional Add-Ins
- ½ cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
How To Make Cheesy Baked Tortellini Casserole
- Preheat the Oven
- Set oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the Tortellini
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook tortellini according to package directions (usually 3–5 minutes).
- Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce
- (Skip this step if making a meatless version.)
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef or sausage until browned.
- Drain excess fat.
- Stir in marinara sauce, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer 5 minutes.
- Assemble the Casserole
- Spread a thin layer of sauce in the baking dish.
- Add half of the cooked tortellini.
- Spoon over half of the sauce.
- Add small dollops of ricotta.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella and cheddar.
- Repeat layers.
- Finish with Parmesan on top.
- Bake
- Cover loosely with foil.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Rest & Serve
- Let casserole rest 5–10 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.