Description
Hearty million dollar ravioli casserole delivers pure comfort from Italian-American kitchens. Melted cheese, rich meat sauce, and tender pasta create a satisfying meal families will crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 jar (24 oz / 680 g) marinara sauce
- 1 package (25 oz / 709 g) frozen or fresh cheese ravioli
- 1 lb (453 g) ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried parsley)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray or olive oil.
- Meat Sauce: Sauté ground beef and onions in a skillet over medium heat, breaking meat into fine crumbles. Drain excess fat, add garlic, and incorporate marinara sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes to develop deep flavor profiles.
- Cheese Mixture: Blend ricotta, sour cream, cream cheese, egg, parsley, salt, and pepper into a smooth, creamy consistency.
- First Layer Assembly: Spread a thin meat sauce base in the baking dish. Layer ravioli completely, cover with half the ricotta mixture, add half the meat sauce, and sprinkle mozzarella generously.
- Final Layer Construction: Repeat layering with remaining ravioli, ricotta mixture, and meat sauce. Crown the casserole with a final blanket of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
- Baking Process: Seal with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue baking 10-15 minutes until cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling surface.
- Serving Presentation: Rest the casserole 5-10 minutes to allow layers to stabilize. Garnish with fresh parsley for a vibrant finish before serving.
Notes
- Master Meat Browning: Ensure ground beef is thoroughly browned and crumbled to prevent large chunks, maximizing flavor distribution and even cooking texture.
- Drain Fat Completely: Remove excess fat from ground beef to prevent a greasy casserole and maintain a clean, rich flavor profile without unnecessary oil.
- Cheese Layer Balance: Spread ricotta mixture evenly to create consistent creamy layers, avoiding thick or thin patches that might disrupt the casserole’s smooth texture.
- Foil Covering Technique: Keep aluminum foil loosely tented to prevent cheese from sticking and allow proper heat circulation during initial baking stage, ensuring even cooking and moisture retention.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg