Description
Comfort meets luxury in this Million Dollar Ravioli Casserole, blending rich Italian flavors with hearty midwestern charm. Cheese-laden layers promise a delicious journey that tempts your palate and satisfies deep hunger pangs in one spectacular dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (453 grams) ground beef or Italian sausage
Cheese and Dairy:
- 1 cup (226 grams) ricotta cheese
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (226 grams) sour cream
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Pasta and Sauce:
- 1 package (25 ounces/709 grams) frozen cheese ravioli
- 1 jar (24 ounces/680 grams) marinara sauce
Seasonings:
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Transform the baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray and heat the oven to a moderate temperature of 350°F.
- Sizzle the ground protein in a spacious skillet, breaking it into crumbly fragments until thoroughly cooked and no longer pink. Drain any accumulated grease and infuse with rich marinara sauce, allowing flavors to meld for several minutes.
- Craft a luxurious cheese blend by whisking ricotta, cream cheese, sour cream, and half the grated Parmesan until smooth. Season with a delicate touch of salt and pepper to enhance the creamy mixture.
- Create a foundational layer of meat sauce across the bottom of the prepared baking vessel, ensuring complete coverage.
- Carefully arrange the first wave of frozen ravioli in a precise, overlapping pattern atop the sauce.
- Generously spread the creamy cheese mixture across the pasta layer, ensuring even distribution and complete coverage.
- Sprinkle the first portion of mozzarella cheese, creating a melty foundation.
- Position the remaining ravioli in a second uniform layer.
- Lavish the top with the remaining meat sauce, creating a robust and flavorful coating.
- Crown the casserole with the final layer of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, promising a golden, crispy top.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil and bake for half an hour, allowing the flavors to merge and intensify.
- Unveil the casserole, removing the foil to allow the cheese to transform into a bubbling, golden masterpiece during the final 10-15 minutes of baking.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant finishing touch before serving this decadent pasta creation.
Notes
- Customize meat choice by swapping ground beef with turkey or plant-based alternatives for healthier protein options.
- Ensure ravioli doesn’t overlap completely to guarantee even cooking and perfect cheese melting throughout the dish.
- Add fresh herbs like basil or oregano into cheese mixture for enhanced flavor complexity and aromatic depth.
- Consider making this casserole ahead and refrigerating overnight, allowing flavors to meld and develop richer taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg