Description
This Easy Baked Tortellini recipe layers ground beef, flavorful herbs, marinara sauce, cheese tortellini, and a blend of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, baked to bubbly perfection. It’s a hearty, cheesy, and satisfying main dish perfect for a family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasoning
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3 large cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Sauce and Pasta
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara/pasta sauce
- 1 (22-ounce) package frozen cheese tortellini
Cheeses
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated (about 2 cups)
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 3-quart baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Brown the Beef: In a large pot over medium heat, cook the ground beef and minced garlic until the beef is no longer pink, breaking up the meat and stirring frequently. Drain excess fat.
- Season the Meat: Add garlic powder, dried basil, dried parsley, dried oregano, dried thyme, crushed red pepper flakes if using, and salt and black pepper to taste. Stir to combine evenly.
- Add Sauce and Tortellini: Stir marinara sauce into the seasoned beef mixture. Rinse frozen tortellini under warm water briefly to slightly thaw, then drain and stir into the meat sauce mixture.
- Add Cheese and Transfer: Remove the pot from heat and stir in half of the grated mozzarella cheese. Transfer the tortellini and meat sauce mixture to the prepared baking dish.
- Top with Cheese and Bake: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the top. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 15 to 20 minutes until the dish is hot, bubbly, and cheese is melted and slightly golden.
Notes
- Fresh herbs can be used instead of dried; use about three times the amount of fresh herbs since they are less potent.
- Add grated vegetables to the meat sauce for added nutrition and flavor.
- Refrigerated tortellini may be substituted for thawed frozen tortellini without altering the recipe.
- If using dried tortellini, boil and drain it according to package directions before incorporating it into the recipe.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
