Description
Beefy Tortellini Pasta Bake is a hearty and comforting dish featuring layers of ground beef, vegetables, marinara sauce, cheese, and tortellini, all baked to perfection for a flavorful family-friendly meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground beef
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
- 1 cup carrots, diced
- 2–3 anchovies (optional)
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 package tortellini (fresh or frozen)
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and move the oven rack to the top third.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until golden.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until the beef is browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer beef to a plate.
- In the same skillet, add onions, mushrooms, carrots, and anchovies (if using). Cook and stir until tender, about 7-10 minutes.
- Stir in 2 cups marinara sauce and use an immersion blender to blend the sauce until smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, transfer the sauce to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Return the cooked beef to the marinara sauce and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes for the flavors to meld.
- Spread 1 cup of the sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Layer half of the tortellini in an even layer, then top with half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat this layer once more.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for another 5-10 minutes until the cheese is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and let the dish cool for 10 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
- For a smoother sauce, feel free to blend it for longer or add extra veggies like bell peppers.
- For a spicier kick, you can add red pepper flakes to the marinara sauce.
- If you don’t like anchovies, they can easily be omitted from the recipe.
- This dish is great for meal prep and leftovers taste even better the next day.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 50mg