Description
Culinary magic happens when Million Dollar Ravioli Casserole combines cheesy pasta layers with rich meat sauce, creating an irresistible comfort dish. Hearty Italian-inspired flavors meld perfectly, promising a delicious meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein and Pasta:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 25-ounce (709 grams) package frozen cheese ravioli
Cheese and Creamy Components:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 28-ounce (794 grams) jar marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray.
- Sauté ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, thoroughly draining any excess fat to ensure a clean, lean base for the casserole.
- Incorporate marinara sauce into the cooked beef, creating a rich and flavorful meat mixture.
- Blend cream cheese, sour cream, half of the Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and a pinch of salt until the mixture reaches a silky, uniform consistency.
- Gently integrate frozen ravioli into the creamy cheese mixture, ensuring each pasta pocket is evenly coated.
- Distribute the ravioli mixture across the prepared baking dish, creating an even layer.
- Cascade the prepared meat sauce over the ravioli, covering the entire surface.
- Generously sprinkle the remaining Parmesan and mozzarella cheese across the top of the casserole.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the ravioli to heat through.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes until the cheese turns golden and the edges become bubbly.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving, which helps set the layers and intensify the flavors.
Notes
- Drain ground beef thoroughly to prevent excess oil pooling in the casserole, ensuring a cleaner and less greasy final dish.
- Use fresh or homemade marinara sauce for enhanced flavor complexity and richer taste profile compared to store-bought versions.
- Select high-quality frozen ravioli with robust filling like cheese or meat to maintain structural integrity during baking and deliver more satisfying texture.
- Experiment with alternative protein options like ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for lighter, diet-friendly variations without compromising overall deliciousness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 630 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 810 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg