Cheesy Baked Tortellini Casserole

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.