Description

This Baked Ravioli recipe offers a comforting and hearty Italian-inspired casserole featuring layers of seasoned ground beef, tender refrigerated ravioli, rich marinara sauce, creamy half-and-half, and melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a family dinner, it’s baked to perfection with a golden broiled top that adds a delightful texture and flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Seasonings

3/4 lb. ground beef
Salt and pepper (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
1 teaspoon hot sauce (mild, for flavor, not heat)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 small yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced

Sauces and Dairy

24 oz. marinara sauce
1/2 cup half and half
2 cups mozzarella cheese, divided

Pasta

20 oz. refrigerated uncooked ravioli (meat or cheese filled)

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
Cook Ground Beef: Season the ground beef with salt and pepper. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the beef for about 3 minutes. Add onion powder, dried basil, dried oregano, mustard powder, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and diced onion. Cook for an additional 5 minutes until onions soften. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Tilt the skillet to spoon out any excess grease. Reduce the heat to low.
Prepare Sauce Mixture: Spread 3/4 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Add the remaining marinara sauce to the skillet with the meat and pour in the half and half. Stir well to combine everything. Remove the skillet from heat.
Layer Ravioli and Meat Sauce: Arrange half of the refrigerated ravioli evenly on the bottom of the casserole dish. Spread half of the meat sauce over the ravioli, then sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Add Second Layer: Place the remaining ravioli on top, followed by the rest of the meat sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese.
Cover and Bake: Cover the casserole dish with a lid or foil (if using foil, spray the underside with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking). Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes.
Broil to Brown: Remove the cover and set the oven to broil at 450°F. Broil the casserole for 1 to 2 minutes to brown the cheese on top. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
Serve: Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your delicious baked ravioli casserole!

Notes

Use refrigerated ravioli for best results; frozen ravioli may require additional cooking time.
If you prefer, you can substitute ground turkey or chicken for ground beef.
For a spicier version, increase the hot sauce to taste.
Spraying the underside of foil prevents sticking to melted cheese during baking.
Let the casserole rest for a few minutes after baking to set before serving.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: baked ravioli, casserole, Italian comfort food, easy dinner, mozzarella cheese, ground beef, marinara sauce