Million Dollar Ravioli Casserole Recipe
Million Dollar Ravioli Casserole is a hearty and comforting baked pasta dish featuring layers of cheese-filled ravioli, creamy cheese mixture, flavorful meat sauce made with ground beef and Italian seasonings, all topped with melted mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. This easy-to-make casserole blends rich cheeses and savory meat sauce to create an indulgent meal perfect for family dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 24 ounces marinara sauce (jarred or homemade)
- Salt to taste
Cheese & Ravioli Mixture
- 24 ounces frozen cheese ravioli
- 8 ounces softened cream cheese
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¾ cup ricotta cheese
Topping
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook Meat: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
- Season Meat: Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in dried Italian seasoning and salt to taste.
- Add Marinara Sauce: Turn off the heat and stir in 2 cups of marinara sauce into the meat mixture. Set aside.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, and ricotta cheese. Mix thoroughly until smooth and well combined.
- Add Ravioli: Add the frozen cheese ravioli to the cheese mixture and gently toss to coat all the ravioli evenly.
- Assemble Casserole: Spread the ravioli and cheese mixture evenly on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Add Meat Sauce: Pour the meat sauce evenly over the ravioli layer.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly, and the casserole is heated through.
Notes
- For best results, use frozen cheese ravioli as fresh may become too soft during baking.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for beef to reduce fat content.
- Allow casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving for easier slicing.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Use low-fat cheese options to make this dish lighter.