Description
This Easy Baked Tortellini recipe features a savory combination of ground beef, garlic, Italian herbs, and two types of cheese baked to bubbly perfection. Simple to prepare, it uses frozen cheese tortellini and marinara sauce for a comforting, crowd-pleasing meal perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 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
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara/pasta sauce
Pasta and Cheese
- 1 (22-ounce) package frozen cheese tortellini
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated (about 2 cups)
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 3-quart baking dish and set aside to prepare the tortellini mixture.
- Cook the ground beef and seasonings: In a large pot over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the minced garlic, breaking it up and stirring frequently until no longer pink. Drain the fat. Season the meat with garlic powder, dried basil, dried parsley, dried oregano, dried thyme, crushed red pepper flakes if using, and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Add marinara and tortellini: Stir the pasta sauce into the cooked ground beef. Rinse the frozen tortellini under warm water for about a minute to slightly thaw, then drain well. Stir the tortellini into the meat sauce mixture.
- Mix in cheese and assemble: Remove the pot from heat and stir in half of the grated mozzarella cheese. Transfer the tortellini and meat sauce into the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake covered and uncovered: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, or until the dish is hot and bubbly.
Notes
- If using fresh herbs instead of dried, use three times the amount for best flavor.
- Add grated vegetables such as zucchini or carrot to the meat sauce for extra nutrition.
- Refrigerated cheese tortellini can be substituted for frozen without changing cooking times.
- If using dried tortellini, boil and drain it according to package instructions before adding to the sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
