Baked Ravioli Casserole
This baked ravioli casserole is stuffed with cheese ravioli, hearty meat sauce, and a creamy white cheese sauce. It’s pure comfort food in a bowl and loved by everyone.
Servings: 8 Servings
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground hot Italian sausage
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon slap ya mama
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- (2) 15 ounce cans tomato sauce
- 12 ounce can tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon basil
For the Creamy White Sauce
- ½ cup butter
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 6 ounce shredded Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ cup of pasta water
- 64 ounce package cheese ravioli, I used frozen
- 2 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° and spray a 9 x 13 deep baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Cook pasta per package directions for al dente.
For the Meat Sauce
- In a large skillet, or frying pan, over medium high heat, cook Italian sausage, ground beef and onions until meat is no longer pink and onions are tender. Drain and return to the pan.
- Sprinkle with seasonings, stir.
- Pour tomato sauce and tomato paste into the meat mixture. Stir to combine, cover and let simmer, stirring occasionally.
For the Creamy White Sauce
- In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter and then stir in flour.
- Pour heavy whipping cream into the pan and stir until combined.
- Add Parmesan cheese, stir until melted and add salt and pepper.
- Add pasta water to cheese sauce, stir.
- Add cooked pasta to cheese sauce, stir to combine.
- Pour pasta and cheese sauce into the prepared baking dish followed by the meat mixture on top.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until the cheese is hot and bubbly.
Notes
- Perfect consistency: Don’t skip adding a little pasta water to your white sauce; it helps the sauce cling to the ravioli.
- Crispy cheesy top: Love that golden, bubbly cheese? Pop the frozen ravioli casserole under the broiler for 1-2 minutes at the end.
- Rest before serving: It’s important to let this baked ravioli recipe cool for a few minutes so the sauce thickens and gives you cleaner slices.