Description
Luxurious million dollar ravioli casserole brings Italian comfort straight to your dinner table. Layers of cheesy pasta, rich meat sauce, and creamy goodness promise a memorable meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- 1 large egg
Dairy:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup (245 g) ricotta cheese
- ½ cup (120 g) sour cream
- 4 ounces (113 g) cream cheese, softened
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 ounces or 680 g) marinara sauce
- 1 package (25 ounces or 709 g) frozen or fresh cheese ravioli
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare a spacious baking vessel by coating with nonstick spray, ensuring complete surface coverage at 375F (190C).
- In a robust skillet, transform ground beef and diced onions into a caramelized blend, eliminating excess oil. Introduce minced garlic, allowing aromatic notes to emerge, then incorporate marinara sauce and simmer until flavors intertwine.
- Craft a luxurious cream mixture by whisking ricotta, sour cream, cream cheese, egg, parsley, salt, and pepper until achieving a velvety consistency.
- Establish a foundational layer of meat sauce in the prepared dish, then methodically construct alternating strata: ravioli nestled beneath creamy ricotta spread, followed by additional meat sauce and generous mozzarella sprinklings. Repeat layering sequence, culminating with a lavish cheese crown featuring both mozzarella and parmesan.
- Shield casserole with aluminum foil, baking for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue roasting until cheese transforms into a golden, effervescent landscape, approximately 10-15 minutes.
- Allow casserole to rest and settle for several minutes, permitting internal temperatures to stabilize. Optionally adorn with fresh parsley before serving, creating a visually enticing presentation.
Notes
- Customize the meat by using ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter or vegetarian version that maintains rich flavor profiles.
- Swap frozen ravioli with fresh or homemade varieties to elevate the dish’s texture and taste complexity.
- Reduce cheese content by using part-skim ricotta and low-fat mozzarella for a healthier alternative without compromising creamy goodness.
- Enhance meal prep by assembling the casserole ahead of time and refrigerating until ready to bake, perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg