• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • All Recipes
  • Dinner

Veronika's Kitchen logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • All Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Dessert
  • Contact Us
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • All Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Dessert
  • Contact Us
×

Home » Course » Dinner » Baked Cheese Tortellini with Meat Sauce

Published: Mar 26, 2022 · Modified: Aug 1, 2022 by Veronika's Kitchen * This post may contain affiliate links

Baked Cheese Tortellini with Meat Sauce

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

These amazing Baked Cheese Tortellini, loaded with hearty meat sauce and topped with Mozzarella cheese are baked to perfection! Easy to make, it will be your favorite family comfort meal for any occasion.

Tortellini with meat sauce and melted cheese in a baking dish with a wooden spoon.

This is one of my most favorite recipes for Baked Cheese Tortellini that are loaded with delicious hearty meat sauce and topped with gooey melted mozzarella cheese! After you bake everything in the oven, all the flavors bind together into a tasty comfort meal that will be perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a Sunday family gathering.

Similar to my Tortellini with Tomato Sauce, this recipe is very easy to make and will be perfect for a meal prep.

Why you will love this recipe

  1. So easy to make! Even if you are a beginner cook, this foolproof recipe will come out perfect every single time!
  2. Good for meal prep! You can make the sauce a 1-2 days ahead and keep refrigerated. When ready to serve, just assemble all the components and bake.
  3. Great for a crowd! If you are having a big party, just double all the ingredients.
Tortellini with meat sauce and melted cheese in a baking dish with a wooden spoon.

Ingredients and Substitution

Ground beef. I prefer to use 85% ground beef as it has the best flavor/fat ratio. You can also easily substitute it with any other ground meat, like turkey, veal, or lamb.

Crushed tomatoes. Crushed tomatoes is my to-go ingredient to make meat sauce. Marinara sauce will also work in this recipe, but you might need to adjust the seasoning, as it’s usually already seasoned with herbs and spices (check out my recipe for Homemade Marinara Sauce).

Tortellini. Refrigerated tortellini work the best in this recipe. You can also use frozen or dried variety.

Mozzarella cheese. Mozzarella is the perfect cheese to sprinkle on top of a casserole. It melts easily and provides delicious gooey texture. Sometimes, I use a store bought pizza blend, that includes a few different grated cheeses and provides even more complex flavors.

Ingredients to make Baked Tortellini with meat sauce.

How to make it

Preheat the oven to 375˚F.

Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 chopped onion and cook for about 7-10 minutes until it’s softened and starts to caramelize.

Process photos of how to sear onions.

Add 1 pound ground beef and cook for another 10 minutes or until it’s cooked through.

Process photos of cooking ground beef with onions.

Then add 28 oz crushed tomatoes and seasoning (½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, 1 tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp dried thyme, and ¼ tsp red pepper flakes. Lower the heat to low and let simmer for about 20 minutes.

Process photos of adding crashed tomatoes and seasoning to the cooked ground beef.

While the sauce is simmering, boil a pot of water. Cook 18 oz refrigerated tortellini until they are cooked al dente, for about 3 minutes (see more in the notes).

When tortellini are cooked, drain the water and add them to the meat sauce and mix.

Process photos of adding tortellini to the meat sauce.

Transfer the mixture to the 13×9-inch baking pan, sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Bake at 375˚F for about 20 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted and browned.

Process photos of adding grated cheese to the tortellini with meat sauce.

How long to cook tortellini

Refrigerated. 2-3 minutes

Frozen. 3-5 minutes

Dried. 10-11 minutes

Tortellini with meat sauce and melted cheese in a baking dish.

Storage and Freezing

Storage: You can keep them in an air-tight container and refrigerate for 3-5 days.

Reheating: You can reheat it in the oven, covered with foil. Just bake at 350˚F for 10 minutes.

Freezing: When completely cooled off, transfer to an air-tight container and freeze up to a month. To thaw, just leave in the fridge overnight and reheat as mentioned in the instructions above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make them ahead?

When making ahead, I prefer just to prep the meat sauce and refrigerate for 1-2 days. When ready to serve, just mix it with precooked tortellini, top with cheese, and bake according to the instructions.

Can you bake tortellini without boiling?

I prefer to precook them before mixing with meat sauce. This way you will make sure that they are cooked through and tender.

Tortellini with meat sauce and melted cheese in a baking dish with a wooden spoon.

More comfort meals ideas:

  • Old Fashioned Goulash Recipe
  • Instant Pot Bolognese
  • Taco Zucchini Boats
  • Hawaiian Chicken Recipe
  • Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
  • Chicken Broccoli Ziti
  • Baked Chicken Cutlets
  • Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
  • Pink Sauce Pasta
  • Pea and Asparagus Risotto
  • Lemon Chicken Orzo
Tortellini with meat sauce and melted cheese in a baking dish with a wooden spoon.
Print Recipe

Baked Cheese Tortellini with Meat Sauce

These amazing Baked Cheese Tortellini, loaded with hearty meat sauce and topped with Mozzarella cheese are baked to perfection! Easy to make, it will be your favorite family comfort meal for any occasion.
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time45 mins
Total Time1 hr
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 605kcal
Author: Veronika’s Kitchen

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 pound ground beef 85% lean
  • 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 18 ounces cheese tortellini refrigerated
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese grated

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375˚F.
  • Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 chopped onion and cook for about 7-10 minutes until it’s softened and starts to caramelize.
  • Add 1 pound ground beef and cook for another 10 minutes or until it’s cooked through.
  • Add 28 oz crushed tomatoes and seasoning (½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, 1 tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp dried thyme, and ¼ tsp red pepper flakes. Lower the heat to low and let simmer for about 20 minutes.
  • While the sauce is simmering, boil a pot of water. Cook 18 oz refrigerated tortellini until they are cooked al dente, for about 3 minutes.
  • When tortellini are cooked, drain the water and add them to the meat sauce and mix.
  • Transfer the mixture to the 13×9-inch baking pan, sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Bake at 375˚F for about 20 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted and browned.

Notes

How long to cook tortellini
  • Refrigerated. 2-3 minutes
  • Frozen. 3-5 minutes
  • Dried. 10-11 minutes
Storage: You can keep them in an air-tight container and refrigerate for 3-5 days.
Reheating: You can reheat it in the oven, covered with foil. Just bake at 350˚F for 10 minutes.
Freezing: When completely cooled off, transfer to an air-tight container and freeze up to a month. To thaw, just leave in the fridge overnight and reheat as mentioned in the instructions above.

Nutrition

Calories: 605kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 908mg | Potassium: 640mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 445IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 285mg | Iron: 6mg
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to know how it turned out! Please let me know by leaving a review below. Or snap a photo and share it on Instagram; be sure to tag me @veronikaskitchen.

More Dinner Recipes

  • Bone-in Skin-on chicken thighs with seared lemon slices on a plate.
    Oven Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
  • Baked diced chicken breast, sweet potatoes, broccoli, zucchini, bell pepper, and cherry tomatoes on a baking sheet topped with grated Parmesan cheese and herbs.
    Sheet Pan Chicken and Veggies
  • Cherry tomato sauce with basil in a large pan.
    15 Minute Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce
  • Chicken drumsticks with potatoes in a baking dish.
    Oven Baked Chicken Legs with Potatoes

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Follow me on:

Welcome to Veronika’s Kitchen!

Hi, I'm Veronika! I'm so happy to see you on my blog and share my favorite meals with you! My main goal is to share delicious classic recipes using simple ingredients. Read More…

Categories

Featured at:

list of brand logos

Most Popular

  • Stew with beef tips, potatoes, carrots, and peas in a bowl.
    Dutch Oven Beef Stew
  • Chicken and rice with broccoli and melted cheese in a white casserole.
    Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Casserole
  • A slice of Tiramisu on a grey plate.
    Classic Tiramisu Recipe
  • Sliced banana bread on a white table.
    One Bowl Banana Bread

Instant Pot Recipes

  • Mashed potatoes, topped with butter and chopped parsley in a bowl.
    Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
  • A collage of four Instant Pot recipes with text in the middle.
    Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners
  • Bolognese sauce over pasta in a grey bowl.
    Easy Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce
  • Lamb shank with gravy, vegetables, amd mashed potatoes in a grey bowl.
    Instant Pot Lamb Shanks

Dinner Recipes

  • Sauteed broccoli, carrots, snow peas, and red bell pepper in teriyaki sauce over white rice in a bowl.
    Vegetables Teriyaki Stir Fry
  • Soup with onions, carrots, potatoes, peas, and pasta in a bowl.
    Vegetable Noodle Soup
  • Carrot and lentil soup, topped with Parmesan cheese and parsley, in a bowl with a spoon.
    Carrot and Lentil Soup
  • Pasta with chicken, spinach, with blush sauce, topped with melted cheese and parsley, in a baking dish.
    Tomato Chicken Pasta Bake

Dessert Recipes

  • Sour Cream Cookies, topped with sugar icing and sprinkles on a plate.
    Sour Cream Cookies
  • Chocolate bundt cake, topped with chocolate ganache.
    Chocolate Overload Cake
  • Cookies topped with M&Ms and chocolate chips on a wire rack.
    Monster Cookies
  • Apple Pie Cinnamon Roll in a baking dish.
    Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • About
  • Contact

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Copyright © 2023 Veronika's Kitchen on the Cookd Pro Theme