This Baked Tortellini Casserole is a hearty and flavorful dish that combines store-bought tortellini with Italian sausage, marinara sauce, cheese and veggies for a perfect weeknight meal! This comforting casserole is a real crowd-pleaser, perfect for family dinners or potlucks.
Believe me when I tell you my family is obsessed with the casserole. With its comforting combination of cheesy pasta, tasty sauce, and melty cheese, it's a perfect choice for a hearty and flavorful weeknight meal that you know everyone will eat.
Plus, it's versatile enough to customize with your favorite ingredients. I usually chop up and throw in whatever veggies I have sitting in the crisper. And if you don't like Italian sausage you would always use ground beef instead. A one-pot dinner you are sure to add to the weekly rotation!
Jump to:
Equipment
For this recipe you will need some standard equipment such as measuring cups and spoons, a cutting board and sharp knife
To make this a one pot meal I love using my Le Creuset Signature Braiser. It's both stove and oven safe so I simply cook up the ingredients, cover with the lid and transfer to the oven to bake.
Ingredients
- Fresh cheese tortellini: You can find this is the refrigerated section of most grocery stores. I really like Rana Cheese Tortellini and you can get it at Target. But your favorite brand will work!
- Ground Italian sausage: You can use sweet or hot Italian sausage. Or if you prefer you can use ground beef. Just be sure to add a little extra seasoning.
- Onion: Yellow, white or red onions will all work.
- Carrots: I like adding about half a cup of diced carrots to add in extra veggies. You can omit these or feel free to add any other veggies you have on hang. Zucchini, mushrooms, etc. would all work.
- Garlic: I always recommend fresh garlic over the jarred kind.
- Spinach: I like the flavor and nutrients that spinach adds to this dish. Feel free to omit if preferred.
- Pasta sauce: You can use marinara, tomato basil or whatever you favorite flavor and brand is. I personally love using Rao's Marinara Sauce for this recipe.
- Parmesan cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
- Water or chicken broth
Substitutions
This recipe is incredibly versatile and you can adapt it to your needs and preferences.
For example, I like using diced carrots in this recipe but you can really throw in any veggies that you have on hand. Some that work well are mushrooms and zucchini.
If you don't like sausage or don't eat pork you can substitute with ground beef or even ground turkey or chicken. If you do so I recommend adding a few teaspoons of Italian seasoning and some extra salt and pepper.
Step-by-Step Photos
Time needed: 50 minutes
How to make Baked Tortellini Casserole
- Cook Italian sausage, onions, carrots and garlic until sausage is cooked through and veggies are tender.
- Add in spinach and marinara sauce. Cook until spinach is slightly wilted.
- Mix in refrigerated tortellini with 1 ½ cups of shredded mozzarella, ¼th cup of Parmesan cheese and ½ cup of water or broth.
- Spread the mixture evenly in the dish. Then top with the remaining 1 ½ cups of shredded mozzarella.
- Cover and bake at 350 F for about 40 minutes. You can remove the lid and broil for a minute or two at the end to brown the cheese, if desired. Enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Simply use a large skillet or pot to prep the casserole and then transfer it to an oven safe casserole dish before you add the remaining cheese and bake.
If you don't have a casserole dish with a lid you can cover it with aluminum foil.
Yes, if you use dried tortellini there will not be enough liquid to fully cook the pasta.
If you are using fresh refrigerated tortellini the no, you do not need to cook it before hand. It will cook in the sauce as the casserole bakes.
More recipes you will love.
Sheet Pan Roasted Tomato Gnocchi
Made this Baked Tortellini Casserole recipe? Let me know what you think in the comments!
Recipe
Baked Tortellini Casserole
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cutting board and knife
- Large oven safe skillet or braiser with a lid You can also use a large skillet/pot to assemble the dish and then transfer to an oven safe casserole dish and cover with tin foil.
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- 1 medium onion, diced
- ½ cup carrots, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 32 oz jar of Marinara sauce
- 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- ½ cup water or broth
- 20 oz package of fresh cheese tortellini
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Drizzle some olive oil into a large oven safe skillet with lid and heat over medium high. Add in the Italian sausage, diced onion, diced carrot and minced garlic. Cook until veggies are tender and the sausage is browned and cooked through, using a wooden spoon to break it apart and stirring frequently. *See notes below for alternative cooking dish.*
- Once the meat is fully cooked pour in the marinara sauce, water (or broth) and add the chopped spinach. Cook until the spinach is slightly wilted. Then taste and add salt and pepper as necessary. Then add in the fresh tortellini along with 1.5 cups of the shredded mozzarella and ¼th cup of shredded parmesan. Mix to combine then turn the heat off. Spread the mixture evenly in the pan then top with the remaining 1.5 cups of mozzarella.
- Cover the dish with a lid (or tin foil) and bake covered at 350 F for about 40 minutes until the cheese is very melty and golden brown. *If desired you can broil uncovered for a minute or two at the end to really brown the cheese. Just keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn!* Remove from the oven and allow to rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
kushigalu
Drooling over this tortellini casserole. Looks amazingly delicious.
Erik
Came together so fast! Definitely gonna be a staple recipe around here.
Harriet Young
Yum! This pasta bake was delicious. Great idea to use fresh tortellini- it made it super quick and easy to make.
Justine
We absolutely LOVED this! The kids asked me to make it again next week, so it was definitely a win!
Brandi
This was so comforting. It was a hit and everyone loved it, even picky eaters!
Charah
Thanks for sharing this easy and delicious recipe
Tayler
I made this casserole for dinner tonight and it was delicious! Perfectly cheesy and everyone loved it!
Katie
This casserole was so easy to make and super delicious!!
Tina
My whole family loved this casserole. I will totally be making it again!
Nisha
This dish looks like my kind of comfort dish and love the cheesy and yum flavors! Wonderful share!
nancy
This tortellini casserole looks amazingly delicious. I made this for my kid and she instantly applaud!
Leslie
This is the perfect, hearty pasta dish! I love the flavors and it comes together so nicely! A definite keeper!
Elizabeth
So delicious! Love this kid-friendly recipe!
Susan
Where do you use the water/broth?
jamjarkitchen
Hi Susan- You add it along with the marinara sauce. Hope this helps!
Lauren
Have you ever made this ahead of time and then baked like the next day?
jamjarkitchen
Hi Lauren - Yes! And it works great. If you are baking it straight from the fridge then you may want to add a little time in the oven to make sure it's warmed all the way through. But it's still delicious and makes excellent leftovers as well. 🙂