Easy Cheesy Tortellini Pasta Casserole Bake Recipe

If you want a tasty and simple meal that you know the whole family will love then this Easy Cheesy Tortellini Pasta Casserole Bake Recipe is a great weeknight dinner. This casserole is loaded with cheese and tender tortellini making it the prefect family meal!

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Why You'll Love This Cheesy Tortellini Pasta Casserole Bake Recipe!

Sometimes you just want something simple that doesn’t require too much effort but you know packs a flavor punch. This easy cheesy baked tortellini is the recipe for you. Pasta is one of my “go-to” meals when I want something comforting. I love how you can take simple ingredients, and tasty flavors, and bring together something filling and satisfying. 

This recipe is the perfect make-ahead or freezer meal and if you have leftovers, is ideal for lunch the next day. You can have this cheesy tortellini bake ready in under an hour, and serve it with some delicious sides. I especially love some garlic bread with this pasta recipe, but it could easily be paired with a side salad, or served alongside other veggies. This is also one of those casseroles you can make during the holiday season or bring to your next party or event. Simplicity at its finest but promises to wow a crowd. You have to try this one! 

• Super easy to make - I love how simple this cheesy baked tortellini casserole is. Classic comfort food delivered in under an hour, what’s not to like? 
• Packed full of flavor - This meal is one that will please the whole family. It is full of flavor and uses simple ingredients. 
• Perfect for all occasions - Whether it is a quick midweek meal or heading to your next potluck this is certainly a great recipe for anytime of year. 

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Equipment Needed

Casserole dish- a 13x9 inch is the perfect size for this pasta dish.

Small bowl

Key Ingredients

Tortellini - I like to use cheese tortellini for this recipe to keep things simple. But there are so many different options of tortellini so you can pick your favorite. It is best to use fresh tortellini that is found in the refrigerator section of most grocery stores because this cooks the quickest. You can use frozen, but it will need to be pre-cooked in boiling water. 

Pasta sauce - Using a pasta sauce makes this so simple to make. Buy your favorite marinara sauce or tomato sauce in your local grocery store.

Ricotta cheese - This is a simple way to add a little creaminess to this dish. You could also use cream cheese if you wish but ricotta has a great flavor. 

Parmesan cheese - I love using strong cheese in some of my recipes and parmesan adds that salty depth of flavor to the dish. You can substitute the parmesan for other grated cheese like Pecorino Romano cheese.

Fresh mozzarella cheese - You can’t beat a bit of stringy cheese when you dig into this pasta casserole dish. I love using mozzarella because it melts so well.

Basil and parsley - Fresh herbs really add a lot of flavor to this dish. You can use dried herbs as an alternative. Italian seasoning will also make a great substitute for fresh herbs. 

Step-By-Step Instructions

Gather all of your ingredients together and preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray a 9x13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.

Add your cheese tortellini to a large bowl and coat in the pasta sauce. You want to make sure that the pasta is well coated so that it will absorb the moisture of the sauce and cook in the oven without boiling it first.

Next add half of the tortellini to the casserole dish and spread out in an even layer.

Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese over the top of the tortellini.

Get a separate bowl and add the ricotta cheese, ¼ cup of parmesan cheese, basil and parsley to a bowl and stir well.

Add dollops of the ricotta mixture to the casserole dish and use a spoon to spread into a layer. This does not need to be perfect.

Then top with the remaining tortellini.

Finally, sprinkle the top of the casserole with mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes or until bubbling and cheese has melted. The foil is important because this will keep the steam trapped inside the dish so that the pasta cooks and does not dry out.

Remove from the oven and garnish with a few more chopped herbs and serve right away!

Serving Recommendations

A fresh green salad - If you want something light then this is the perfect side dish for this recipe. Crisp and fresh it works perfectly with the pasta.

• Garlic bread - You can’t go wrong with serving a pasta meal with a delicious portion of garlic bread. Why not push the boat out and enjoy some garlic bread with cheese? 
• Bread - Pasta always works well served with bread. You could serve up crusty bread or even some dinner rolls to dip into the sauce. 
• Veggies-Because I have picky eaters in my family I usually serve my vegetables on the side. Air fryer broccoli, Instant Pot asparagus and honey Sriracha Brussels sprouts are all great vegetable options.

Make Ahead

This cheesy baked tortellini recipe is ideal to make-ahead. Simply assemble according to the directions without baking. Wrap the entire casserole dish in a layer of plastic wrap and another layer of foil and pop in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking the next day. When ready to bake, remove the casserole dish from the refrigerator for an hour to come up to room temperature. (You should never put cold glass in the oven because the change in temperature can cause it to break.) Bake according to directions but add a few extra minutes to allow for the cold ingredients. Make sure to remove the plastic wrap before baking and replace the foil.

You can also make a batch and refrigerate until ready to bake. Because this is so simple to prepare you can prep in the morning before work and have a easy dinner to pop in the oven after a long day. This is especially crucial on those busy weeknights.

Storage

Store this easy cheese tortellini pasta casserole bake in the refrigerator. Let any of the pasta bake leftovers cool and then transfer them to an airtight container before refrigerating. They will last in the fridge for up to four days. 

You can freeze leftovers and allow them to thaw overnight before reheating. Baked or unbaked as suggested when meal prepping, this casserole will freeze for up to three months. 

What Tortellini Should I Use?

Fresh tortellini is best for this recipe as this cooks the quickest. You can use frozen but it will need to be pre-cooked before coating in the pasta sauce and assembling in your casserole dish. 

I have used cheese tortellini but there are so many fillings that you can pick your favorite. I have kept this a vegetarian dish but you could use tortellini filled with meat or even add some meat to it. 

Variations

• Add some meat - You could cook off some bacon or add some Italian sausage and add this to the pasta sauce or even add cooked meat such as rotisserie chicken. Ground turkey or brown ground beef will also work great.  
• Make your own pasta sauce - If you have your own favorite pasta sauce recipe packed full of veggies that you make from scratch then you could use that instead of a jar of pasta sauce. 
• Add extra vegetables - This is a great dish to add some extra veggies. You could try adding sautéed mushrooms, fresh spinach, bell peppers, or zucchini. They will need to be sauteed ahead of assembling the casserole but it is a great way to get some extra nutrition.

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