Description
This Baked Tortellini Lasagna is a hearty and comforting Italian-inspired dish featuring cheese tortellini simmered in a rich marinara sauce with ground beef, layered with creamy ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses, then baked to bubbly perfection. It’s an easy one-pan meal perfect for family dinners or weeknight gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 12 oz package cheese tortellini (thawed; Costco or Barilla brand recommended)
Sauce and Cheese
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup ricotta cheese
Vegetables and Seasoning
- 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 5–6 fresh basil leaves, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the assembled dish.
- Sauté Aromatics and Brown Beef: Heat a large skillet or cast iron pan over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Once warm, add chopped onions and minced garlic, cooking until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add ground beef and cook until fully browned, then drain excess grease.
- Combine Sauce, Cheese, and Tortellini: Lower the heat and add the jar of marinara sauce to the browned beef. Stir in parmesan and ricotta cheeses until they melt into the sauce, creating a creamy texture. Add the thawed cheese tortellini and cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. If using frozen tortellini, cook according to package instructions before adding.
- Top with Mozzarella and Bake: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the mixture in the skillet. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven and garnish with freshly chopped basil leaves. Serve warm as a satisfying, cheesy pasta bake.
Notes
- Use thawed tortellini for best results; cook frozen tortellini separately before adding if preferred.
- If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, an oven-safe pan or baking dish works too.
- Drain excess grease after browning beef to keep the dish from becoming too oily.
- For a vegetarian option, substitute ground beef with sautéed mushrooms or plant-based meat alternatives and use vegetarian marinara sauce.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat covered in the oven or microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe (approx. 1 cup)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
