Tortellini casserole, if you’re looking for an incredibly flavorful meal that’s easy to make, this is it! This Italian dish is a crowd-pleaser and the perfect dinner for busy evenings when you want to serve something delicious.
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Why This Recipe Works
I make this tortellini casserole with stuffed pasta, ground beef, passata, cherry tomatoes, and top it off with mozzarella. As far as I’m concerned, it’s delicious comfort food that’s always a hit with everyone at the table, a true crowd-pleaser!
Ingredients for Pasta Casserole
To make this delicious casserole, you’ll need a few ingredients. Let me tell you what you need to make this recipe:
- Pasta, in this dish I used stuffed pasta, tortellini, with a cheese filling
- Ground beef, for meat I used ground beef but you could use pork, a mix or even ground turkey or chicken
- Passata, the base of the sauce is passata which is basically a tomato sauce base. You can buy this at the store or make your own
- Aromatics, I used onion and garlic
- Vegetables, I kept it very simple and used cherry tomatoes but you could add extra veggies such as celery, courgette or bell peppers
- Flavorings, in this recipe I used pesto, smoked paprika, oregano and fresh basil
- Cheese, no pasta dish is complete without cheese so I added mozzarella balls to this casserole
Tortellini Casserole with Ground Beef
For this dish, I used ground beef, which makes it a really filling meal. You can use ground beef, ground pork, or a mix of both; even ground chicken would work great flavor-wise! Do you prefer to make a vegetarian meal? Then try substituting it with vegetarian ground meat, tofu, or mushrooms.
Stuffed Pasta Casserole
A baked dish with stuffed pasta is just incredibly delicious. Because the pasta already has a delicious filling, it adds extra flavors that come together perfectly. So be sure to choose your own favorite tortellini: with cheese, spinach, mushrooms, or even a meat filling.
Want to make even more Italian style casseroles after this tasty recipe? I have a few other delicious recipes for you;
- Eggplant parmigiana, with eggplant, tomato sauce and Parmesan
- Pasta casserole, with pasta, creamy chicken and broccoli
- Italian casserole, with ground meat, potatoes, tomatoes and cheese.
Side Dishes for Tortellini Casserole
If you’d like to serve something on the side with this dish, I definitely recommend a salad. Just tasty and simple: your choice of lettuce, topped with tomatoes and cucumber, for example. Of course, you can go all out and add some nuts and other vegetables. Finish the salad with a fresh dressing of your choice, and you’ll have a delicious and healthy meal on the table. Buon appetito!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different kind of pasta?
Absolutely, you can use any kind of pasta you like!
Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
Also yes, you can sub the meat with tofu, mushrooms, lentils or more vegetables like courgette or bell pepper.
Can I make the casserole ahead of time?
Sure, you can. To reheat it, cover it with aluminum foil and bake it in the oven at 180 degrees for about 20–30 minutes.
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Ingredients
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 clove garlic
- 500 gram tortellini (stuffed with cheese)
- 300 gram ground beef
- 1 tbsp oregano (dried)
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 500 ml passata
- 175 gram cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 125 gram mini mozzarella balls
- 2 tbsp green pesto
- olive oil, salt and pepper, fresh basil
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Pasta pot
- Casserole dish
INSTRUCTIONS (how to make this recipe):
- Preheat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius / 428 Fahrenheit with top and bottom heat.
- Take a large skillet, heat it over medium-high heat, and add a splash of olive oil. Sautée the onion and garlic briefly until they begin to turn translucent.
- Meanwhile, cook the tortellini according to the package instructions.
- Add the ground beef to the onion in the skillet and cook until crumbly, seasoning with oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Pour in the passata and season the sauce further with salt and pepper if desired.
- Add the cherry tomatoes to the sauce. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for a few minutes.
- Drain the cooked tortellini and toss with the sauce.
- Spoon half of the pasta into the baking dish. Sprinkle half of the mini mozzarella balls over it, then add the other half of the pasta, and finally the rest of the mozzarella.
- Spoon some green pesto over the top and place the baking dish in the oven for 10-15 minutes until the mozzarella has melted. Garnish with fresh basil to taste. Enjoy your meal!
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