Description
Million dollar ravioli casserole combines rich Italian flavors with comforting pasta layers. Cheesy, meaty, and indulgent, this dish promises a delightful meal you’ll savor to the last bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240 ml) Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (240 ml) sour cream
- 2 cups (480 ml) mozzarella cheese, grated (divided)
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 1 25-oz (709 g) package frozen cheese ravioli
- 1 28-oz (794 g) jar marinara sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent adhesion.
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat until completely cooked, breaking into small crumbles. Drain excess fat and integrate marinara sauce, then remove from heat.
- Create a creamy cheese mixture by whisking cream cheese, sour cream, half the Parmesan, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt until smooth and homogeneous.
- Gently fold frozen ravioli into the cheese mixture, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated without fragmenting the pasta.
- Transfer the ravioli-cheese blend into the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly across the bottom.
- Layer the meat sauce uniformly over the ravioli, then generously sprinkle remaining Parmesan and mozzarella cheese on top.
- Seal the dish completely with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking for 15 additional minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbling.
- Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes after removing from oven to allow layers to stabilize and enhance serving consistency.
- Slice and serve warm, savoring the rich, multilayered flavors of this decadent ravioli casserole.
Notes
- Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version that maintains the dish’s hearty texture.
- Enhance the cheese mixture’s flavor by adding fresh chopped basil or mixing in sun-dried tomatoes for extra depth and complexity.
- Prevent ravioli from becoming soggy by using slightly frozen ravioli and avoiding over-mixing when coating with the cheese mixture.
- Make this casserole ahead of time by assembling and refrigerating up to 24 hours before baking, which allows flavors to meld together beautifully.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 523 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 735 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 104 mg