Description
Comfort meets luxury in this Million Dollar Ravioli Casserole, where rich cheese-filled pasta layers mingle with hearty meat sauce. Savory flavors and creamy textures invite you to savor each delectable bite of this crowd-pleasing Italian-inspired dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Meat:
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
- 24 ounces (680 grams) frozen or fresh ravioli (cheese or meat-filled)
- 1 large egg
Cheeses:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) ricotta cheese
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) sour cream
Seasonings and Other Ingredients:
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) marinara sauce or meat sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 teaspoons italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray.
- Cook ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into crumbles and seasoning with salt and pepper. Drain away excess fat completely.
- Whisk cream cheese and sour cream in a mixing bowl until creating a smooth, uniform blend.
- Create the first layering foundation by spreading a thin coat of marinara sauce across the bottom of the baking dish.
- Arrange the first set of frozen ravioli across the marinara base, covering the entire surface.
- Distribute half the cooked ground beef evenly over the ravioli layer.
- Dollop and spread half of the cream cheese mixture across the beef layer, ensuring gentle coverage.
- Repeat the layering process: another set of ravioli, remaining beef, and remaining cream cheese mixture.
- Generously sprinkle shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese across the top layer, creating a complete cheese coverage.
- Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbling.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5-7 minutes before serving to help set the layers.
Notes
- Customize meat by swapping ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter protein option.
- Enhance cream cheese mixture by adding garlic powder, Italian herbs, or red pepper flakes for extra flavor complexity.
- Prevent soggy bottom by draining ground beef thoroughly and using minimal liquid marinara sauce to maintain casserole’s structural integrity.
- Assemble casserole up to 24 hours in advance, refrigerate, and bake when ready, potentially adding 5-10 minutes to cooking time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 481 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 547 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg