Cheesy Baked Tortellini Casserole with Beef
This Cheesy Baked Tortellini Casserole with Beef is an easy weeknight dinner that your entire family will love. Made with simple ingredients but packed with flavor from rich meat sauce, cheese-filled tortellini, and a blend of mozzarella cheeses, this tortellini casserole recipe is a comforting meal that’s perfect for any night of the week!
Looking for more easy, comforting dinners?? Try my Easy Cheesy Baked Spaghetti, One-Pot Velveeta Hamburger Helper, or this Cheesy Baked Bechamel Pasta!
What you’ll love about this recipe:
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this Baked Tortellini Casserole with Beef:
INGREDIENT NOTES
Tortellini: Use your favorite refrigerated fresh tortellini. I love buying ours in bulk at Costco. They freeze well!
Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella: This is very similar to fresh mozzarella but it’s creamier and richer than regular mozzarella. If you can’t find it in the deli section of your local grocery store, feel free to grab a container of fresh mozzarella.
Marinara: We love Rao’s marinara sauce, but you can use your favorite red sauce, like spaghetti sauce or another pasta sauce.
HOW TO MAKE BAKED TORTELLINI CASSEROLE: STEP-BY-STEP
Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with exact ingredients will be in the printable recipe card below!
Steps 1 & 2: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground beef, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks. Drain excess grease.
Add marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Simmer for about 5 minutes until flavors come together.
Step 3 & 4: Add tortellini to the skillet and toss gently until the tortellini is evenly coated with the meat sauce.
Transfer half of the tortellini and meat mixture to a prepared baking dish. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Add remaining tortellini, then sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese evenly across the baking dish. Finally, top with slices of buffalo mozzarella.
Step 5: Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is bubbly. The edges of the pasta casserole should be slightly golden brown. Garnish with fresh herbs.
RECIPE TIPS & TRICKS
- Grease the baking dish first. To prevent the cheesy tortellini casserole from sticking to the sides of the dish, spray generously with cooking spray first.
- Simmer for flavor. Allow the sauce to simmer with the beef and seasonings to blend the flavors well before adding the tortellini.
- Let it rest. Allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the cheese to set slightly.
Make-Ahead Tip
Prepare the meat sauce up to 4 days ahead and store it in the fridge in a separate container. When ready to bake, toss the tortellini with the meat sauce, assemble the casserole, and bake.
STORAGE & REHEATING
Storage: Store leftover cheese tortellini casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also transfer the casserole into individual serving-size containers for quick work-week lunches.
Reheating: To reheat, cover the casserole with a damp paper towel and reheat in a microwave in short intervals until warmed through.
Freezing: For best results, freeze the casserole dish unbaked. Cover tightly with foil or plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. To bake, allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then bake per recipe but increase baking time.
ADDITIONS & SUBSTITUTIONS
ADDITIONS:
- Add veggies: Toss in fresh spinach, thinly sliced cremini mushrooms, or small fresh broccoli florets into this dish for added veggies.
- Savory topping: Sprinkle bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese on top of the casserole.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
- Swap the meat: Use Italian sausage to give the casserole even more flavor. Or try another lean ground meat like ground turkey or chicken.
- White sauce: Swap out the marinara sauce with cheese alfredo sauce. Or tuck small pieces of cream cheese into the pockets between tortellini to give it more creaminess.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Nope! This easy dinner recipe doesn’t require that you pre-cook it as long as you don’t use frozen tortellini.
I prefer to use cheese tortellini since it’s a classic choice that adds a creamy and slightly tangy flavor that complements the meaty red sauce well. But you can use other tortellini like mushroom or spinach tortellini.
A hearty pasta dish like this one pairs wonderfully with a garlic bread baguette and a side salad. You can also serve this with roasted or grilled vegetables or breadsticks.
Our Favorite
Hearty Pasta Recipes
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I hope you love this Cheesy Baked Tortellini Casserole! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Cheesy Baked Tortellini Casserole with Beef
Equipment
- 8×8 Baking Dish (or similar, I used a 2.5 quart oval)
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1 20 oz. package refrigerated (uncooked) tortellini
- 2 cups marinara sauce we love Rao's!
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8 oz. fresh buffalo mozzarella, sliced you can also use regular fresh mozzarella, too
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- salt/pepper to taste
- fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray an 8×8 (or similar) baking dish with cooking spray.
- Brown meat: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown beef. Break the meat into small pieces as it cooks. Drain any excess grease.
- Add: To the ground beef, add marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Simmer for about 5 minutes until flavors are comboned.
- Combine: Add tortellini to the pan. Toss gently until the tortellini is evenly coated with the meat sauce.
- Layer: Transfer half of the tortellini to your baking dish. Sprinkle on half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Add the remaining tortellini, then sprinkle on the remaining shredded cheese. Last, top with the slices of buffalo mozzarella.
- Bake: Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until the cheesy is melted and the casserole is bubbly. The edges should be slightly golden brown. Allow the casserole to rest for about 5 minutes then serve!
yum! this is such an easy weeknight recipe. Plus who doesn’t love tortellini in, well, anything!
I made this casserole for dinner last night and it was incredible! Perfectly cheesy and hearty!
Oh this is my jam! Can’t go wrong with pasta, cheese and beef! Thank you so much!
I love this recipe! My family loves Italian dishes so easy weeknight ones are our faves! Thank you!