Description
Million Dollar Ravioli Casserole featuring cheese, marinara sauce, and basil. A comforting and crowd-pleasing Italian dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 24 oz (680g) cheese ravioli (fresh or frozen)
- 1 lb (454g) ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 medium onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (1 tablespoon)
- 24 oz (680g) marinara sauce
- 8 oz (226g) cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 1 cup (240ml) sour cream
- 2 cups (226g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup (100g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Ravioli Fill a large pot with water, add a generous pinch of salt, and bring to a boil. Cook the ravioli for about 2 minutes less than the package instructions indicate—they’ll continue cooking in the oven. You want them slightly underdone to prevent mushiness in the final casserole. Drain carefully, toss with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking, and set aside. If you’re using frozen ravioli, you can skip this step—they’ll cook perfectly from frozen in the assembled casserole.
- Step 2: Prepare the Meat Sauce Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef or Italian sausage and break it apart with a wooden spoon as it browns. When the meat is about halfway cooked, add the diced onions and cook until the meat is no longer pink and the onions are translucent, about 5-6 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes if using. Season with salt and pepper to taste, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes to combine the flavors.
- Step 3: Make the Cream Mixture In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and sour cream. Mix until smooth and well incorporated. This creamy mixture is what gives the Million Dollar Ravioli Casserole its rich, indulgent quality that sets it apart from ordinary pasta bakes. Make sure your cream cheese is properly softened to avoid lumps.
- Step 4: Assemble the Casserole Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the dish. Arrange half of the ravioli in a single layer. Top with half of the remaining meat sauce, followed by all of the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle with half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Arrange the remaining ravioli on top, followed by the rest of the meat sauce and cheeses.
- Step 5: Bake to Perfection Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and beginning to brown on top. For an extra golden top, you can broil for the last 1-2 minutes, but watch carefully to prevent burning. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10-15 minutes before garnishing with fresh herbs and serving your masterpiece.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 1100mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 100mg