Wednesday, May 25, 2022

BAKED TORTELLINI AND MEAT SAUCE RECIPE

Baked Tortellini

Here's a new recipe we have done a couple of times.  We found it online (Pinterest) and modified it a bit to our preferences.  Wow, it's SO good.

BAKED TORTELLINI

1 onion, chopped

3 to 4 cloves of garlic minced

20 oz pkg fresh cheese tortellini (we used Buitoni)

1 24 oz jar of marinara (we like Rao's brand) 

8 oz cream cheese

2 lbs ground Italian sausage (or beef or combo)

2 cups shredded mozzarella

1/2 cup of grated parmesan

Sautéed onion and garlic

In a pan, saute the chopped onion and garlic in a few TBSP olive oil until translucent.

Browned sausage
Add the ground meat (sausage or beef) to the onion/garlic mixture and cook until browned.
Drain any excess grease/fat, reduce to simmer.

Side note:  We used all ground beef the first time, very good.  We used all Italian sausage this time, wonderful. Next time we're going to try a combo of 1 lb each.

*The Italian sausage adds so much seasoning and flavor so if you use all beef, add a TBSP or so of Italian seasonings to the browning step for some of that flavor.

Marinara and sausage
Add one jar of marinara sauce and stir to combine.

Mariana meat sauce with cream cheese
Add the cream cheese and stir until melted.

Boiling tortellini
In a separate pot, boil the tortellini according to package directions and drain well.  We always go a minute or two under since it will cook more in the oven.

Tortellini and marinara
 Add the drained tortellini to the meat sauce mixture.

Tortellini ready for oven
Stir all to combine and melt the cream cheese.
Remove from heat.

Baked tortellini 
Pour into a 9x13 greased casserole dish. 

Tortellini bake in the oven
Spread shredded mozzarella on top and sprinkle the grated parmesan over that.  

Pop into a preheated 350 degree oven and bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes.

When the timer goes off, turn on the broiler and broil for about 5 minutes or until top is browned and bubbly. 

Baked tortellini casserole fresh from the oven
Take it out and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes to cool and let it thicken up.

Oven baked tortellini lasagna
Dish it up and enjoy.  We had it with some delicious garlic bread and a side salad.  

We made a similar recipe a few times but wow, this one is so much easier and better.  It really gives you everything you want in a lasagna but in an easier and quicker form.  And cold the next day...well let's just say, I bet you wouldn't know that it's not lasagna.

SO GOOD!

17 comments:

  1. I will be trying this for sure. It looks amazing!!

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  2. I am salivating! That lookss so good that I could eat it for breakfast.

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    1. Full confession we did have some cold for breakfast, ha.

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  3. Oh, yum! This looks wonderful! Y’all do know how to eat good at your house.

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    1. We like to cook something big on the weekend so we can eat on it over several days and/or put up for freezing.

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  4. Oh my gosh that looks so good. I love lasagna but it's so much work. I like a shortcut. Janie V

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    1. It's a definite shortcut and tastes just like you worked hard making layered lasagna ha.

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  5. Thank You for sharing your recipe.
    I do make a dish somewhat like this; using sour cream instead of cream cheese.
    I put this down on my menu plan for next week.
    A lot of times I will use pork sausage in place of the hamburger or the Italian sausage and use different pasta.
    Speaking of pasta; the shelves at WalMart here where pretty bare; choice of egg noodles or egg noodles.
    Enjoy your day and have yourselves a wonderful evening.

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    1. Sour cream would be good. It just makes it creamy and that's all that matters. Haven't noticed a pasta shortage but I know there is a wheat shortage in the world so maybe that's related. I need to check that out before we run out and can't get any.

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    2. Shortage of pasta; I think it all depends on location and the grocery store, cause we had gone to another grocery store and they where pretty well stocked on pasta. They had more of a variety to pick from.
      WalMart, I think gets a bit behind in stocking their shelves.

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  6. Good morning ! Heart attack city! I make a vegan version that's good for my body, the planet and no animals were killed :-). C!image change is real!

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    1. LOL well I don't know about that but certainly no more heart attack city than just making a lasagna or any other Italian pasta dish. Meat, marinara, pasta and cheese. Of course, you could also omit the meat and then no animals were harmed (milk for cheese so not vegan I suppose). I haven't had a vegan lasagna, will have to try that sometime. We have been cooking more often with plant based "meats" and would love to try that in this.

      Yes, climate is a changing.

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  7. This would be good to take to a get-together. I'll have to remember it.

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    1. that's so funny, when we were eating, 2nd Man said 'this would be a great dish to take to a function'. Great minds!!!

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  8. Definitely looks like a must try!

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