This Million Dollar Tortellini is an easy baked pasta casserole loaded with cheese tortellini, seasoned beef, creamy ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and rich tomato sauce for the ultimate comforting dinner.
From the recipe collection of Tara Ippolito
If you're looking for the kind of dinner that everyone gets excited about, this Million Dollar Tortellini is it. It's cheesy, hearty, incredibly satisfying, and tastes like something you'd order at your favorite Italian restaurant.
The creamy ricotta layer paired with cheesy tortellini and seasoned meat sauce creates the perfect combination of flavors and textures. Best of all, it's simple enough for a weeknight but impressive enough to serve to guests.
Why You'll Love it
- Super cheesy and packed with flavor.
- Easy to prepare using simple ingredients.
- Family-friendly and kid-approved.
- Perfect for meal prep and leftovers.
- Comfort food that's perfect all year long.
Ingredients
Here's everything you'll need to make this delicious recipe. You can find the full ingredients list along with measurements on the recipe card below.
- Olive Oil - Used to sauté the onion and garlic while adding a little richness.
- Onion - Adds sweetness and depth to the meat sauce.
- Garlic — Gives the sauce incredible homemade flavor.
- Ground Beef — Makes the casserole hearty and filling.
- Crushed Tomatoes - Forms the rich tomato sauce.
- Ricotta Cheese - Creates the creamy"million dollar" layer.
- Mozzarella Cheese - Melts into a gooey, cheesy topping.
- Parmesan Cheese - Adds salty, nutty flavor throughout the ricotta mixture.
- Cheese Tortellini — The star of the dish that replaces traditional pasta.
- Italian Seasoning - Adds classic Italian herb flavor.
- Garlic Powder - Boosts the garlic flavor throughout the dish.
- Salt & Pepper - Brings all of the flavors together.
- Fresh Parsley (optional) - Adds freshness and color before serving.
How To Make It
Heres how to make this delicious pasta. You can find the full ingredients list along with instructions on the recipe card below.
- Preheat the oven to 350. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat and sauté the onion and garlic into soft. Add the ground beef and seasoning it with salt and pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Brown the ground beef, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks. Drain the fat if needed. Add the crushed tomatoes and season it with salt, pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Stir them into the ground beef and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- Turn off the heat, add the tortellini and stir it into to sauce until it’s evenly coated. In a greased baking dish, add half of the tortellini and sauce mixture and smooth it out so that it is flat even. In a separate bowl mixed together the ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Dollop the ricotta mixture on top of the tortellini. Using the back of a spoon, smooth it out into an even layer over the tortellini.
- Add the rest of the tortellini on top of the ricotta mixture and smooth it out so that it’s flat and even. Cover the top with the shredded mozzarella cheese. Place in the center rack of the oven until the cheese is melted, and the sides are hot and bubbly. Let it cool slightly garnish with parsley (optional). Serve warm and enjoy!
Pro Tips
- Freshly shred your mozzarella for the best melt and texture.
- Let the casserole rest for about 10
- minutes before serving so it slices more easily.
- Use refrigerated cheese tortellini for the best texture.
- Taste your sauce before assembling and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Cover loosely with foil if the cheese begins browning too quickly.
Variations
- Add Spinach: Stir fresh spinach into the sauce before assembling.
- Use Italian Sausage: Swap the ground beef for mild or hot Italian sausage.
- Make It Spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Extra Cheesy: Mix provolone or fontina into the mozzarella.
- Vegetarian Version: Skip the meat and add mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach.
What To Serve This With
This rich pasta bake pairs perfectly with homemade garlic bread, salad, roasted broccoli or green beans. Finish dinner with cannoli or tiramisu for the perfect Italian inspired meal.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave until heated through or warm the entire casserole in a 350°F oven, covered with foil, until hot. You can also freeze the baked casserole for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
Million Dollar Tortellini Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Tbs Olive Oil
- 1 Small Onion, diced
- 4 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 Pound Ground Beef
- 28 Oz Crushed Tomatoes
- 15 Oz Ricotta Cheese
- 2 Cups Mozzarella Cheese, hand shredded (divided)
- ½ Cup Parmesan Cheese
- 1 Pound Cheese Tortellini
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 3 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 3 teaspoon Garlic Powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat and sauté the onion and garlic into soft. Add the ground beef and seasoning it with salt and pepper, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Brown the ground beef, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks. Drain the fat if needed.
- Add the crushed tomatoes and season it with salt, pepper,1 teaspoon of garlic powder and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Stir them into the ground beef and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- Turn off the heat, add the tortellini and stir it into to sauce until it’s evenly coated.
- In a greased baking dish, add half of the tortellini and sauce mixture and smooth it out so that it is flat even.
- In a separate bowl mix together the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese, Parmesan, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Dollop the ricotta mixture on top of the tortellini. Using the back of a spoon, smooth it out into an even layer over the tortellini.
- Add the rest of the tortellini on top of the ricotta mixture and smooth it out so that it’s flat and even also. Cover the top with the shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Place in the center rack of the oven for 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted, and the sides are hot and bubbly.
- Let it cool slightly, garnish with parsley (optional) serve warm, and enjoy!
Al Dente Diva says
Refrigerated !
Anonymous says
Is the tortellini frozen or refrigerated kind, and is it cooked beforehand?
258sdf129 says
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