Tortellini, Our Favorite Little Cheesy Pasta Pillow
If you love baked ziti, this baked tortellini recipe is for you! Tortellini are a ring-shaped pasta, filled with cheesy goodness (usually a ricotta base, sometimes with meat and herbs, too) and I adore them (see also: tortellini soup!)!
Tortellini, baked into a cheesy, saucy casserole, makes for crowd-pleasing dinner that comes together so fast! I learned this basic recipe many years ago, when a family I nannied for had a chef friend who would always come over and make cheesy pasta bakes! He’d cook pasta and throw it in a baking dish with protein, sauce and cheese and voila! It was always so good.
If you love baked pasta, try baked ravioli, baked gnocchi or manicotti next!
What Our Readers Say
This is a truly 5-star dish!! Such a simple prep ~ loved the ease of using fresh tortellini straight to the pan. Definitely use the sweet Italian sausage--the sweet fennel flavor blends beautifully with the kale and lends a delightful complexity to this dish. Absolute perfection--and yields a generous amount. Lovely for a dinner party! - Merrie
Ingredients For Easy Homemade Baked Tortellini
- Fresh tortellini: No need to boil it first! You can also use frozen tortellini. You can use any type of tortellini, but plain cheese tortellini is a great blank canvas for this baked tortellini recipe.
- Italian sausage: Or any ground meat you'd like to use. Try mild or hot Italian sausage, chicken sausage, ground pork, or ground beef. Or, vegetarians could definitely use a meat substitute!
- Crushed tomatoes & tomato paste: The base of the quick homemade tomato sauce.
- Kale: Swap in spinach, collards or Swiss chard if you prefer.
- Cream: A little cream makes everything really come together!
- Mozzarella : Melty mozz, there’s no substitute!
- Garlic and onions: Of course.
- Chicken bouillon: This is sort of the “secret ingredient” of this recipe. It adds a huge amount of savory flavor.
How To Make Baked Tortellini
- Cook sausage with onions and garlic in a Dutch oven.
- Stir in the tomato paste, bouillon, kale, crushed tomatoes, cream, and salt.
- Put the tortellini and mozz in a baking dish.
- Pour the meat-and-tomato sauce over the tortellini
- Top with more mozz!
- Bake until bubbling, about 40 minutes.
How To Freeze + Store
Leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. And yes, baked tortellini is EXCELLENT for freezing! It’s honestly one of the best freezer meals! Just assemble it completely (without that last sprinkling of mozz). Then, cover it tightly with foil (a few layers is not a bad idea) and then freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat it, let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Then bake it in the oven for 350°F, covered, for about 25 minutes until hot. Did you forget to thaw it? You can bake it from frozen! It’ll just take longer. Bake it covered at 350°F for 60-70 minutes. Then, uncover and broil for a few minutes. Done!
Tips For Success
- Don't cook tortellini first or they’ll be mushy by the end of hte baking time.
- Let the whole tortellini bake rest for 5-10 minutes after baking if you can! It comes out REALLY HOT and it’s actually better if it can sort of set for a few minutes.
- Sometimes, I make it ahead! Here’s how: Assemble in the morning, refrigerate, bake for dinner.
- Definitely double the recipe! It’s the same effort but you get more meals or you get one for you and one to bring to a friend who needs a break from thinking about dinner.
- Speaking of, this recipe is perfect for meal trains! New parents, sick friends, etc. Just be sure to assemble it in a disposable pan, so they don’t have to deal with dishes, and include baking instructions on the label.
- Make it a little extra nutritious by adding more veggies! I’ve added cooked mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, olives, or roasted red peppers. YUM.
What To Serve With Cheesy Baked Tortellini
Olive Garden was onto something with the bottomless breadsticks, endless salads, and house chianti. I suggest similar pairings! Make a simple Italian salad and a loaf of garlic bread, and you’ll be fighting off the fans. If you’re feeling like a little soup to start, we recommend something traditional like zuppa toscana. And don’t forget the parmesan cheese. You could also serve a dish of shrimp scampi (we think you should!). Finish this meal with our easy tiramisu and call it a day!
Tools You’ll Need
- 9x13 baking dish
- Large pot or Dutch oven
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Tin foil
Keep The Oven-Baked Goodness Going
- More great Italian bakes: baked ziti, baked gnocchi, and baked rigatoni
- Simple bakes: baked crispy chicken thighs, baked salmon, roasted zucchini with parmesan
- Breakfast bakes: apple and maple baked oatmeal, baked eggs with swiss chard and green olives, or a delicious dutch baby pancake
More Cheesy Pasta Bakes
Get Out Your Oven Mitts And Get Ready To Bake
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