Description
This Baked Ravioli recipe features tender cheese ravioli baked in a rich, creamy Italian sausage marinara sauce topped with melted mozzarella cheese. It’s a comforting and hearty dish perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings, combining savory sausage, flavorful tomato sauce, and gooey cheese baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce and Meat
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 cup diced yellow onion (about 1 medium onion)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (32-ounce) jar marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 (14-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ cup heavy cream
Pasta and Cheese
- 1 (20-ounce) bag fresh cheese ravioli
- 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
Garnish
- Minced fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce and meat: Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add ground Italian sausage, diced onion, and minced garlic. Cook while breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon until the sausage is fully cooked and the onion softens, about 10 minutes.
- Add sauces and seasonings: Stir in the marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, kosher salt, Italian seasoning, and heavy cream. Continue cooking and stirring for about 3 minutes until everything is fully incorporated and heated through.
- Combine ravioli with sauce: Add the fresh cheese ravioli directly into the pot and gently stir to evenly distribute the ravioli throughout the sauce without breaking the pasta.
- Prepare for baking: Transfer the ravioli and sauce mixture to a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese on top. Cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil.
- Bake the ravioli: Place the baking dish on the center rack of a preheated 350°F oven. Bake covered for 30 minutes until the ravioli is tender and the sauce is bubbly.
- Broil for finishing: Remove the foil, turn the oven broiler on, and return the dish uncovered to the oven. Broil for about 3 minutes or until the mozzarella cheese is lightly browned and bubbling.
- Rest and serve: Remove from oven and let the baked ravioli cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Garnish with minced fresh parsley and serve family-style.
Notes
- You can use store-bought or homemade marinara sauce based on preference.
- Be gentle when stirring in ravioli to avoid breaking the delicate pasta.
- Use fresh cheese ravioli for best texture and flavor.
- Adjust Italian seasoning to taste if you prefer more or less herbaceous flavor.
- Broiling the cheese at the end creates a deliciously golden and bubbly topping.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 860mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
