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This post is sponsored by Cache Valley® Creamery. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This Cheesy Baked Tortellini with Meat Sauce is the ultimate cozy comfort food for busy nights. It's perfect for family dinners or holiday gatherings, made with cheese tortellini, hearty meat sauce, and a rich, gooey layer of melted cheese.
Nothing says cozy like cheesy baked pasta straight from the oven when the weather gets chilly. This Baked Tortellini Recipe is simple to prepare, making it ideal for those busy winter evenings. Made with cheese tortellini, ground beef, and two types of cheese, this baked tortellini has all the cozy vibes you're looking for.
The best part? It's easily customizable-swap in your favorite tortellini flavor, add a handful of veggies or double the recipe to feed a crowd. It's a family favorite you'll turn to again and again!
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🧀 Ingredients to Make Baked Tortellini with Meat Sauce
- Tortellini - Fresh or frozen tortellini works well, but cooking it 1 minute less than the package instructions gives the best texture. You can skip boiling the tortellini and mix it with the meat sauce, but the cooking times will be longer.
- Sauce - Try my Quick and Easy Marinara or Sunday Italian Tomato Sauce for a homemade sauce. If you're short on time, store-bought marinara works too!
- Cheese - Cache Valley® mozzarella and Cache Valley® finely shredded parmesan give this pasta the perfect balance of sharp flavor and melty texture. Shredding mozzarella from a block ensures a smoother melt than pre-shredded cheese, but both work. Other Cache Valley® products that would work well are provolone, asiago, or six-cheese italian.
👩🏻🍳 How to Make Cheesy Baked Tortellini
Make Meat Sauce - Heat the olive oil in a pan, then cook the ground beef, with the onions, garlic, and seasonings for 5-7 minutes until the meat is browned and the onions are softened. Add the marinara, lower the heat, and let the sauce simmer while you cook the tortellini.
Cook the Tortellini - Boil the tortellini in salted water for 1 minute less than the package instructions. Once it's done cooking, drain the water and add it to a baking dish.
Layer and Bake - Pour the meat sauce over the tortellini and gently stir to coat the pasta with the sauce. Evenly layer the mozzarella and parmesan over the top of the tortellini and cover the baking dish tightly with foil.
Bake the pasta at 375°F for 30 minutes until the sauce bubbles and the cheese is melted. To brown the cheese, turn on the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes after baking.
⏲️ Kitchen Time Saver
Chop the onions and mince the garlic while the pan for the sauce heats and the water boils for the pasta.
⏲️ Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions
Fridge - Don't cook the tortellini, but make the sauce and add it to a baking dish with the uncooked fresh or frozen tortellini. Mix to coat the pasta with the sauce, top with the cheese, and top the dish with plastic wrap. When ready to bake, remove the plastic wrap, cover with foil, and preheat the oven to 375˚F. Bake for 45-60 minutes until the sauce bubbles and the cheese melts.
Freezer - Don't cook the tortellini, but make the sauce and add it to a baking dish with the uncooked fresh or frozen tortellini. Mix to coat the pasta with the sauce, top with the cheese, and wrap the entire dish tightly in plastic wrap. At baking time, remove the plastic wrap and cover with foil. Preheat the oven to 375˚F, then bake for 50-70 minutes until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbly. (Defrosting the pan overnight in the refrigerator can reduce baking time and ensure even heating.)
Glossary
If you don't recognize a tool or skill I mentioned, you can look it up in my Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information!
💭 Frequently Asked Questions
Frozen peas, chopped broccoli, fresh spinach, or artichoke hearts would all be great mixed in with the pasta!
Ravioli can be used as a substitute for the tortellini. Depending on the size, larger ravioli may take longer to cook.
🍝 Hearty Pasta Recipes
If you love this Hearty Baked Tortellini with Meat Sauce, add these other pasta recipes to your must-try list!
Recipe
Cheesy Baked Tortellini with Meat Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 6 ounces ground beef
- ¼ cup yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 3 cups Italian Tomato Gravy, Quick Marinara, or store-bought sauce
- 19 ounces frozen or refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 4 ounces Cache Valley® mozzarella, shredded
- 2 ounces Cache Valley® finely shredded parmesan
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375˚F, heat a large saute pan over medium heat on the stovetop with the olive oil, and bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Add the ground beef, onions, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to the pan and cook for 5-7 minutes, while breaking up the meat, until it is browned and the onions are softened.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, stir in the marinara, and let the sauce simmer while you cook the tortellini.
- Salt the boiling water and cook the tortellini for 1 minute less than the package instructions.
- Drain the water completely and add the cooked tortellini to a 3-4 quart baking dish. Pour the meat sauce on top and gently mix to combine.
- Evenly layer the shredded cheese on top and cover the pan with foil. (Spray the underside of the foil with baking spray to prevent the cheese from sticking to it.)
- Bake the tortellini in the oven for 30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the sauce bubbles. (To brown the cheese, flip on the broiler for 2-3 minutes afterward.)
Notes
- Pasta: The tortellini can be added to the pan without boiling, but cooking times will be longer. It can also be substituted for ravioli or meat-filled tortellini.
- Veggies: Mix frozen peas, cooked broccoli, fresh spinach, or artichoke hearts with the sauce and pasta before baking.
- Make Ahead: Mix the uncooked tortellini in the baking dish with the finished meat sauce, and top with the cheese. Wrap the dish in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for 1-2 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months. At baking time, replace the plastic wrap with foil and preheat the oven to 375˚F. Bake until the sauce bubbles and the cheese melts. Cooking time will be approximately 45-60 minutes if refrigerated and 55-70 minutes if frozen. (Defrosting the pan overnight in the refrigerator can reduce baking time and ensure even heating.)
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