Cheesy Baked Tortellini
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Sep. 26, 2024
This Cheesy Baked Tortellini is a fuss-free, ready-in-30-minute meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. The tangy tomatoes combine with melted cheese, making a favorite family comfort meal.
In This Article
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Why This Recipe Stands Out
We love an easy casserole dish, and this Cheesy Baked Tortellini is one of our favorites. Here’s why:
- No Boiling the Pasta: This recipe uses frozen tortellini, which means no boiling or cooking the pasta beforehand. It’s a huge time-saver, a lot like our Baked Ravioli Casserole,
- Use Any Protein: You can easily customize this casserole by using your choice of ground meat (beef, turkey, or sausage).
- Meal Prep Ahead: Like all great casserole recipes, this one can be prepared the night before, making it the perfect recipe for busy weeknights or a no-fuss weekend dinner.
- Super Cheesy: With two cups of mozzarella and parmesan each, this casserole is a cheese lover’s dream, like our Cheesy Creamy Baked Ziti.
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Ground Beef – We use 1 ½ pounds of lean ground beef, preferably 80% or 90% lean. You can also go with ground sausage or turkey.
- Pasta – In this recipe, we used refrigerated cheese tortellini but any pasta will work great here. Frozen works great too.
- Seasonings and Sauces – We use a combination of spices, tomato-based pasta sauce, and diced tomatoes for the sauce. It’s a delicious combination of flavors.
- Cheese – We use a combination of mozzarella and parmesan cheese for the perfect level of cheesiness.
Substitutions And Variations
We love this Cheesy Baked Tortellini because it’s so versatile. Here are some of our favorite variations and substitutions:
- Meatless: While we love to add ground meat to the casserole, you can easily leave it out for a vegetarian dish. Feel free to add mushrooms or other chopped veggies in its place.
- Cheese: Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese. Our Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo uses sharp cheddar cheese as well which will work great in this dish too.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- Cook the ground beef with salt and pepper in a pot over medium heat.
- Add pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, garlic, oregano, basil, onion powder, and sugar to the pot.
- Layer the sauce, tortellini, and cheese in an oven-proof casserole dish.
- Cover and bake for 40 minutes if using frozen tortellini, or 30 minutes for refrigerated. Uncover and bake for another 10 minutes.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
How To Prep Ahead
Take a look at the best prep-ahead strategies for this recipe:
- Cook the Meat: You can cook the ground beef with salt and pepper in advance. Once it’s brown and cooked through, drain the excess grease and let it cool. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to make the casserole, just reheat the beef and continue with the recipe.
- Assemble Beforehand: This casserole can be assembled the night before. Simply follow all the layers in the casserole pan, cover it tightly, and store it in the fridge. The frozen tortellini will defrost overnight, so you’ll need to reduce the initial bake time to 30 minutes.
What To Serve With Cheesy Baked Tortellini
Bread
- Crusty artisan bread such as this French Bread Recipe or Rosemary Garlic Bread are our favorites.
- We also highly recommend Olive Garden Style Bread Sticks for this cheesy casserole dish.
Vegetables
- Cheesy Baked Tortellini pairs well with crisp green salads. Try this Kale Brussels Sprouts Salad or our Easy Chopped Greek Salad.
- Roasted veggies are an ideal companion to pasta dishes. We recommend trying this Easy Roasted Vegetables Recipe.
Soup
- A warm, comforting soup can make a great starter or side dish for cheesy baked tortellini. We recommend trying it with a Classic Minestrone or a Roasted Tomato Basil Soup.
Commonly Asked Questions
What type of tortellini should I use?
You can use either frozen or refrigerated cheese tortellini for this recipe. Both work well, so it’s really just a matter of personal preference and convenience.
How long does cheesy baked tortellini keep?
This cheesy baked tortellini will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make sure to store it in an airtight container to maintain its freshness and flavor.
Can I freeze this dish before baking?
Yes, you can assemble the casserole, cover it tightly, and freeze it before baking. When you’re ready to enjoy it, simply let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then bake it according to the original instructions.
Did you make this?
Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!
Cheesy Baked Tortellini
This Cheesy Baked Tortellini is hard to beat, if you're looking for a quick and easy yet totally scrumptious weeknight meal. Make it meatless, if you like.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs ground beef
- ½ tsp table salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 20 oz cheese tortellini, from package, frozen or refrigerated
- 26 oz tomato-based pasta sauce
- 28 oz diced tomatoes, with all juices
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp dried basil
- 1 TB onion powder
- 1 TB white sugar
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups shredded parmesan cheese, not powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Cook ground beef with salt and pepper in a large, heavy pot over medium high heat. Continually stir and break up pieces until browned and cooked through. Drain excess grease, and turn heat to low.
- Add red pasta sauce and diced tomatoes with juices to the pot. Add garlic, oregano, basil, onion powder, and sugar. Stir to incorporate. Remove from heat.
- Spread one-third of the sauce mixture evenly onto the bottom of a 9×11" casserole pan or similar sized baking dish. Arrange half of the frozen tortellini over the sauce. Sprinkle one-third of both the mozzarella and parmesan over the tortellini. Repeat layers. You should end with the last third of sauce on top, followed by the last third of cheeses.
- Spray a sheet of aluminum foil with oil, and lay the oil-side down loosely over casserole. Bake 40 minutes for frozen tortellini; 30 minutes for refrigerated ones. Uncover and bake another 10 minutes, or until cheese turns bubbly and golden.
Notes
- Use a large, heavy pot to cook the ground beef. This allows for even heat distribution and gives you plenty of space to add the sauce and other ingredients later.
- Don’t forget to drain the excess grease after cooking the ground beef. This helps to reduce the grease.
- Starting with the sauce on the bottom of casserole dish ensures that the pasta cooks evenly and stays moist.
- Cover the casserole with lightly greased aluminum foil before baking. It will prevent the cheese from sticking to the foil and also help the tortellini to cook through without drying out.
- Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes after baking. This allows the dish to set and makes it easier to serve.
- This casserole may be assembled the night before, covered tightly, and stored in the fridge. The frozen tortellini will become defrosted, so reduce the bake time to 30 minutes in this case.
- For substitutions and make-ahead suggestions, see original article.
- Serve with Rosemary Garlic Bread or these Easy Garlic Parmesan Knots and crisp green salad like our Chopped Greek Salad for a complete meal.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 573kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 121mg | Sodium: 1014mg | Potassium: 442mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 456IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 583mg | Iron: 5mg
More to Bake And Eat
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- Perfect Pasta Primavera – Here’s a spring pasta that has plenty of fresh, vibrant vegetables you’ll feel great about.
- Creamy Tomato and Sausage Pasta – On busy weeknights, this Creamy Tomato and Sausage Pasta will readily come to your rescue. It’s not only easy to prepare and comes together quickly.
- One Pot Pizza Pasta – This One Pot Pizza Pasta is a weeknight meal saver. It’s easy, tasty, and sure to please. Kids and adults alike will devour this one.