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Print & Download Tortellini Pasta Bake Recipe
Tortellini Pasta Bake
If you’re searching for a comforting and flavorful meal that will please the whole family, look no further! This Tortellini Pasta Bake is a delicious blend of cheese-filled tortellini, savory Italian sausage, ground beef, and a rich, cheesy tomato sauce.
Equipment
Baking Dish
Ingredients
- * 1 lb 3-cheese tortellini
- * 1 lb chicken Italian sausage
- * 1 lb ground beef
- * 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- * 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- * Fresh basil for garnish
- * 1 onion diced
- * 2 tbsp tomato paste
- * 32 oz tomato sauce
- * 1/4 cup heavy cream
- * 1 tsp dried oregano
- * 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes adjust to taste
- * 1 tsp all-purpose seasoning or a mix of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder
Instructions
Preheat Your Oven
- Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). This will ensure your pasta bake is hot and bubbly when it comes out of the oven.
- Dice the onion and basil and measure out your remaining ingredients.
- Next cook your Italian Sausage and slide to the side of your skillet, then add in the ground beef.
- While the meat is cooking, cook the 3 cheese Tortellini per package instructions in salted water.
Prepare the Meat Sauce
- In a large skillet or sauté pan, cook the chicken Italian sausage over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Use a wooden spoon to break it up into small pieces as it cooks.
- Remove the sausage from the pan and set aside.
- In the same pan, add the ground beef and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the diced onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce, heavy cream, oregano, red pepper flakes, and all-purpose seasoning.
- Mix well and let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Return the cooked sausage to the pan and stir to combine.
Assemble the Bake
- In a large baking dish (about 9×13 inches), spread a thin layer of the meat sauce mixture on the bottom.
- Add a layer of tortellini on top of the sauce, then pour over more of the meat sauce mixture.
- Repeat the layers until all the tortellini and sauce are used, ending with a layer of sauce on top.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
Bake to Perfection
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the top is golden brown.
Garnish and Serve
- Once out of the oven, let the Tortellini Pasta Bake cool for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.
Notes
PREHEAT OVEN TO 250-DEGREES
Tips for Success
- Customize Your Meat: Feel free to substitute or add other meats, such as ground turkey or pork, depending on your preferences.
- Vegetable Add-Ins: For added nutrition, you can include vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, or bell peppers. Simply sauté them with the onion before adding them to the sauce.
- Make-Ahead Option: This dish can be assembled ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking. Just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.
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