Description
Packed with cheesy goodness, Million Dollar Baked Tortellini Casserole delivers comfort straight from your kitchen to your plate. Your family will devour this hearty pasta bake loaded with rich sauce and melted cheese in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 (20 oz) package of refrigerated or frozen cheese tortellini
Sauces and Cheeses:
- 1 (24 oz) jar of pasta or marinara sauce
- 8 oz cream cheese, cubed
- 1 to 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated or shredded parmesan
Seasonings:
- Salt to taste
- Garlic powder to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Italian seasoning to taste
Instructions
- Boil the 20 oz package of tortellini in salted water for 8-9 minutes until tender. Drain completely and set pasta aside.
- Brown 1 lb ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat at 375°F for 7-8 minutes. Sprinkle 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, and 1 tsp Italian seasoning while cooking.
- Drain excess fat from the beef. Pour the entire 24 oz jar of marinara sauce into the skillet. Add 8 oz cubed cream cheese and stir until completely melted.
- Fold the cooked tortellini into the meat sauce. Ensure each pasta piece gets thoroughly coated with the creamy mixture.
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Transfer the tortellini and sauce into the dish, spreading evenly across the pan.
- Sprinkle 2 cups shredded mozzarella and ½ cup parmesan cheese over the top of the casserole.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Bake uncovered for exactly 20 minutes until cheese melts completely.
- Switch oven to broil. Broil your casserole for 2-3 minutes to achieve a golden-brown cheese topping.
- Remove from oven and let your casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to set and makes cutting easier.
Notes
- Avoid overcooking tortellini to maintain a tender texture and prevent mushy pasta.
- Let the meat sauce simmer slowly to help cream cheese melt completely and create a smooth, rich consistency.
- For a lighter version, substitute ground beef with ground turkey and use reduced-fat cream cheese.
- Fresh tortellini works better than frozen, giving a more authentic pasta flavor and smoother overall texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 558 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 765 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg