Baked Tortellini

🍝✨ Baked Tortellini — Cheesy, Saucy, and Weeknight‑Hero Approved

Cheese‑stuffed pasta baked in a creamy, meaty, saucy hug — this Baked Tortellini is basically lasagna’s sassier cousin who shows up uninvited and steals the spotlight.

Let’s be real: pasta night is always a win, but sometimes spaghetti feels a little too basic and lasagna feels like too much of a commitment. Enter Baked Tortellini — the middle ground that’s equal parts indulgent and easy.

This dish is the definition of comfort food: pillowy cheese tortellini baked in marinara, ground beef, cream cheese, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan. It’s saucy, it’s creamy, it’s cheesy, and it’s the kind of recipe that makes you want to cancel your plans, grab a fork, and eat straight from the casserole dish.

Why this recipe is a keeper:

Shortcut pasta magic — tortellini = instant fancy.
Cheese trifecta — cream cheese, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan.
Family‑friendly — picky eaters don’t stand a chance.
Make‑ahead friendly — assemble, refrigerate, bake when ready.
Crowd‑pleaser — perfect for potlucks, Sunday dinners, or weeknight wins.

💬 Reader prompt: Are you team “eat pasta straight from the pan” or team “plate it nicely”?

Does anyone else ever get stuck in a dinner rut? Well, this beefy, cheesy Baked Tortellini is here to save you!

I think we all get in the rut one time or another! I love easy recipes that taste amazing and this totally fits the bill!

TIPS FOR TORTELLINI

Combine browned ground beef and your favorite jarred pasta sauce. Or you could certainly substitute homemade marinara if you happen to have some on hand.
If you want, you can add a few veggies to make it a complete dish!
You can change up the cheese. You can do half Mozzarella and half Parmesan.

Baked Tortellini

INGREDIENTS

1 pound fresh or frozen cheese tortellini
1 pound ground beef
3 cloves garlic minced
24 ounces marinara
8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
½ cup ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
1 cup shredded Parmesan
¼ cup minced fresh parsley optional

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray.
Cook the tortellini for 1 minute less than the package directions state.
While the tortellini is cooking, add the ground beef to a large, deep skillet over medium heat and cook until browned. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more. Drain the fat from the skillet.
Add the marinara to the beef and simmer for 10 minutes.
Drain the tortellini and add to the skillet with the beef and marinara and stir to combine.
Add the cream cheese, ricotta, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt to a small mixing bowl. Stir well to combine.
Pour half of the the tortellini mixture into the prepared baking dish and top with the cream cheese mixture. Add the remaining tortellini and sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan.
Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 10 more minutes.
Sprinkle with parsley before serving.

🔢 Calorie Count (Per Serving, Serves 6)

Calories: ~480
Protein: 28g
Carbs: 36g
Fat: 24g
Fiber: 3g
Sugar: 6g

🥕 Nutritional Facts & Fun

Tortellini: Carbs + cheese = happiness.
Ground beef: Protein + iron + hearty flavor.
Marinara: Tomatoes = antioxidants.
Cheese combo: Calcium + indulgence.
Garlic: Flavor bomb + immune boost.

💬 Reader prompt: Do you like your baked pasta extra cheesy, or do you prefer it lighter?

🧒 Kid Tips

Call it “cheesy pasta bake” to make it sound fun.
Keep spices mild for little taste buds.
Let kids sprinkle cheese on top.
Serve with breadsticks for dipping.

🛒 Grocery Hacks

Tortellini: Buy frozen — it’s just as good as fresh.
Ground beef: Buy in bulk, portion, and freeze.
Marinara: Doctor up store‑bought with garlic and herbs.
Cheese: Shred your own for better melt.
Parsley: Freeze chopped parsley in ice cube trays with olive oil.

💬 Reader prompt: Do you usually shred your own cheese, or do you grab the bagged stuff?

🎯 Reader Challenge

This week, I challenge you to make Baked Tortellini and serve it in a fun way. Maybe it’s in mini ramekins, maybe it’s part of a pasta bar night, maybe it’s your new Sunday dinner tradition. Post your creation with #LouLouGirlsTortelliniGlow so we can all drool together.

🥪 Leftover Remix

Tortellini Soup: Add broth for a cozy soup version.
Tortellini Quesadillas: Fold into tortillas with extra cheese.
Tortellini Pizza: Spread on flatbread, top with mozzarella, bake.
Tortellini Stuffed Peppers: Spoon into peppers, bake until tender.
Tortellini Grilled Cheese: Use as filling between bread slices.

💬 Reader prompt: Would you rather turn leftovers into quesadillas or stuffed peppers?

💭 Final Thoughts

This Baked Tortellini is proof that comfort food doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s hearty, flavorful, and versatile enough to be a weeknight dinner, a family favorite, or a “just because” indulgence. Plus, it’s the kind of recipe that makes everyone smile — and isn’t that the best kind of cooking?

Here’s the thing about baked pasta — it’s never just pasta. It’s the smell of garlic sizzling, the joy of cheese bubbling, the comfort of knowing you’ve got a dish that’s both playful and nourishing.

And this Baked Tortellini? It’s a keeper. It’s saucy, it’s cheesy, it’s indulgent, it’s fun. It’s the kind of recipe that makes you feel like you’ve turned pantry staples into something restaurant‑worthy.

But what I love most is how recipes like this bring us together. Food has that magic — it’s not just about eating, it’s about sharing. It’s about swapping tips, laughing over sauce‑splattered counters, and building little traditions that make life tastier.

So here’s my challenge to you: make this dish, share it with your people, and then tell me your twist. Did you add spinach? Did you sneak in extra garlic? Did you double the cheese just because you could? (No judgment — I’d be first in line for that version.)

💬 Reader prompt: Should we do a “Baked Pasta Series” next? I’m dreaming up baked ziti, cheesy enchilada pasta, and maybe even mac and cheese lasagna.

Until then, may your tortellini be tender, your cheese melty, your sauce rich, and your kitchen filled with laughter, love, and second helpings. Because at the end of the day, recipes like this aren’t just about cooking — they’re about celebrating the little joys that make life delicious.

And if you take nothing else from this post, let it be this: baked pasta isn’t just dinner, it’s a lifestyle. 🍝🧀✨

DID YOU TRY THIS Baked Tortellini? DID YOU LOVE IT? WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! PLEASE LEAVE US A COMMENT BELOW OR TAG US ON INSTAGRAM!

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Easy Creamy Tomato Pasta! I’m not a straight marinara sauce lover, but I have found if I put a little cream into the sauce, I’m as happy as a clam!

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2 thoughts on “Delicious Baked Tortellini”

VIRGINIA says:

September 1, 2021 at 10:31 AM

I’M NOT FINDING A PRINT TAB ON YOUR RECIPES. I LIKE TO PRINT AND ALSO SAVE IN MY COMPUTER RECIPE FILE. THANKS FOR THE GREAT LOOKING RECIPES!

1. Kimberly Lewis says:
  
  September 1, 2021 at 10:43 AM
  
  if push on the + in the tabs on the left side of the recipe or at the top or bottom, it should give you the option of printing. If not, you can search and find it. I hope that helps! It’s so hard how it appears on each computer. Have a fabulous day!