Baked Tortellini with Meat Sauce Recipe
This easy and comforting Baked Tortellini with Meat Sauce combines tender cheese tortellini, savory ground beef seasoned with garlic, onion, and Italian herbs, creamy cream cheese, and rich pasta sauce topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a perfect weeknight family dinner that offers hearty, cheesy goodness in every bite.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Meat Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 8 oz cream cheese, cut into chunks
Pasta
- 19 oz bag frozen cheese tortellini
- 24 oz jar pasta sauce with mushrooms
Toppings
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the dish.
- Cook Tortellini: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the frozen cheese tortellini and cook for 3 minutes until just tender. Drain the pasta thoroughly to remove excess water.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef along with garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Cook until no pink remains, breaking the meat apart as it cooks. Drain any excess fat or liquid from the skillet.
- Add Cream Cheese: Cut the cream cheese into chunks and add it directly to the cooked ground beef in the skillet, allowing it to melt and combine with the meat.
- Combine Pasta Sauce and Tortellini: In a large mixing bowl, gently mix the cooked tortellini with the jarred pasta sauce containing mushrooms. Be careful not to overmix or break apart the tortellini pieces.
- Mix Meat with Pasta: Add the meat and cream cheese mixture to the tortellini and sauce blend. Stir carefully until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the combined mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish and spread evenly. Top with the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake: Place the dish uncovered in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes until the sauce bubbles around the edges and the cheese is melted.
- Broil Cheese Topping: For a golden, slightly crispy cheese top, switch the oven to broil and broil the dish for about 2 minutes or until the cheese reaches your desired level of browning. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve hot. This dish pairs excellently with garlic bread and a fresh side salad for a complete meal.
Notes
- Do not overcook the tortellini in boiling water since it will continue cooking in the oven.
- Drain excess fat from the ground beef to keep the dish from being too greasy.
- Using cream cheese adds extra creaminess and richness to the meat sauce.
- Broiling at the end gives the cheese a lovely golden crust and enhances presentation.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with plant-based meat or mushrooms.