Cheesy Baked Tortellini Casserole
Cheesy Baked Tortellini Casserole
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 lean
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 28-ounce can canned diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 5 ounces fresh spinach
For the Casserole Assembly
- 19 ounces cheese-filled tortellini, uncooked
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 8 min
- 3
Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the ground beef and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min
- 5
Add the canned diced tomatoes (undrained), tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Stir in the fresh spinach a handful at a time, allowing it to wilt into the sauce before adding more. Continue to cook until all the spinach has wilted.
⏱️ 4 min
- 7
Bring the meat sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low and let it simmer for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Spread about 1 1/2 cups of the prepared meat sauce evenly in the bottom of the greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
Arrange half of the uncooked cheese-filled tortellini in a single layer over the meat sauce.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the tortellini layer.
⏱️ 1 min
- 11
Add another layer of about 1 1/2 cups of the meat sauce on top of the mozzarella cheese.
⏱️ 2 min
- 12
Place the remaining uncooked cheese-filled tortellini over the second layer of meat sauce.
⏱️ 2 min
- 13
Spread the remaining meat sauce over the tortellini, ensuring they are mostly covered.
⏱️ 2 min
- 14
Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese generously over the top of the casserole.
⏱️ 1 min
- 15
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
⏱️ 1 min
- 16
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the tortellini is tender.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 375
- 17
Remove the dish from the oven and carefully remove the aluminum foil. Return the uncovered dish to the oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375
- 18
Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped basil.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Cheesy Baked Tortellini Casserole
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 lean
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 28-ounce can canned diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 5 ounces fresh spinach
For the Casserole Assembly
- 19 ounces cheese-filled tortellini, uncooked
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 8 min - 3
Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the ground beef and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min - 5
Add the canned diced tomatoes (undrained), tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Stir in the fresh spinach a handful at a time, allowing it to wilt into the sauce before adding more. Continue to cook until all the spinach has wilted.
⏱️ 4 min - 7
Bring the meat sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low and let it simmer for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Spread about 1 1/2 cups of the prepared meat sauce evenly in the bottom of the greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
Arrange half of the uncooked cheese-filled tortellini in a single layer over the meat sauce.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the tortellini layer.
⏱️ 1 min - 11
Add another layer of about 1 1/2 cups of the meat sauce on top of the mozzarella cheese.
⏱️ 2 min - 12
Place the remaining uncooked cheese-filled tortellini over the second layer of meat sauce.
⏱️ 2 min - 13
Spread the remaining meat sauce over the tortellini, ensuring they are mostly covered.
⏱️ 2 min - 14
Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese generously over the top of the casserole.
⏱️ 1 min - 15
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
⏱️ 1 min - 16
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the tortellini is tender.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 375 - 17
Remove the dish from the oven and carefully remove the aluminum foil. Return the uncovered dish to the oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375 - 18
Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped basil.
⏱️ 5 min