Description
Cheesy Tortellini Bake delivers pure comfort straight from your oven, making your dinner table shine with classic Italian-inspired deliciousness. Creamy cheese, tender pasta, and golden-brown edges guarantee a satisfying meal your family will devour in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (20 ounce) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Crumble 1 pound of Italian sausage in a large skillet. Brown the meat over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Drain excess grease completely.
- Toss 1 chopped medium yellow onion into the skillet. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for another minute.
- Pour in 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 15 ounces tomato sauce, and 6 ounces tomato paste. Stir thoroughly to blend ingredients.
- Season the sauce with 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried basil, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon sugar, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Reduce heat to low. Simmer the sauce uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Whisk 15 ounces ricotta cheese with ½ cup Parmesan, 1 beaten egg, and ¼ cup chopped parsley in a separate bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
- Heat your oven to 375F. Boil 20 ounces of cheese tortellini according to package instructions. Drain completely.
- Gently combine tortellini with half the meat sauce in a large mixing bowl.
- Spread a thin sauce layer across the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Transfer tortellini mixture into the baking dish. Spread evenly across the surface.
- Drop spoonfuls of ricotta mixture across the tortellini layer.
- Sprinkle 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese over the top, covering completely.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Bake at 375F for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil. Continue baking for 15-20 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 10-15 minutes after removing from the oven.
- Garnish with fresh herbs before serving hot alongside a crisp salad.
Notes
- Drain sausage thoroughly to prevent a greasy dish and ensure the sauce stays thick and flavorful.
- Use fresh tortellini from the refrigerated section for the best texture and taste compared to frozen or dried varieties.
- Let the sauce simmer longer for deeper, more developed flavors, which creates a richer overall casserole.
- Substitute ground turkey or plant-based sausage for a lighter protein option that works equally well in this recipe.
- Prep Time: 20-25 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes - 1 hour 12 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 553 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 810 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg