Description
This Easy Baked Tortellini recipe features a hearty blend of ground beef, garlic, herbs, and cheese baked to perfection with cheesy tortellini in a savory marinara sauce. It’s a comforting, crowd-pleasing dish that’s simple to prepare and perfect for a family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and 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: Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 3-quart baking dish. Set it aside for later use.
- Cook beef and season: In a large pot over medium heat, brown the ground beef along with minced garlic until the meat is fully cooked and no longer pink. Break up the meat as it cooks and stir frequently. Drain any excess fat. Season the beef with garlic powder, dried basil, parsley, oregano, thyme, crushed red pepper flakes if using, and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Add sauce and tortellini: Stir the marinara sauce into the cooked ground beef mixture. Place the frozen tortellini in a colander and run it under warm water for about a minute to slightly thaw. Drain and then stir the tortellini into the meat sauce mixture.
- Mix cheese and assemble: Remove the pot from heat. Stir in half of the grated mozzarella cheese into the tortellini and meat sauce. Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top evenly with the remaining mozzarella and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake the dish: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Then remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, or until the dish is hot, bubbly, and the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
Notes
- Fresh herbs can be used instead of dried herbs by tripling the quantity since fresh herbs are less potent.
- You can add grated vegetables such as zucchini or carrots to the meat sauce for extra nutrition and flavor.
- Refrigerated cheese tortellini can be substituted for frozen tortellini without changing the recipe.
- If using dried tortellini, cook according to package instructions before adding to the sauce.
- Drain excess fat thoroughly after cooking the meat to avoid a greasy final dish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
