You know those nights when you open the fridge and just want dinner to figure itself out? Ground Beef Tortellini Casserole is my answer. A bag of tortellini and a pound of ground beef turn into the kind of dinner that gets everyone fed without requiring a complicated game plan.
What makes this recipe irresistible
The best part is getting a little bit of everything in each bite. The tortellini is filled with cheese, the seasoned beef adds plenty of savory flavor, and the creamy tomato sauce settles into all those folds and pockets of pasta.
Then there's that layer of melted cheese on top that gets wonderfully gooey as it bakes. It's one of those casseroles where you find yourself going back for just one more scoop.
Ground Beef Tortellini Casserole
Equipment
- 1 9x13 casserole dish
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons Montreal steak seasoning
- 24 ounce jar marinara sauce
- 14.5 ounce diced tomatoes drained
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 20 ounce frozen cheese tortellini
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- Chopped parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the frozen tortellini according to package directions, reducing the cooking time by 1-2 minutes. Drain well.
- While the tortellini cooks, brown the ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Stir in the Montreal steak seasoning, marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the sour cream until combined.
- Add the cooked tortellini and gently stir until coated with the sauce.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the mozzarella and cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, or until hot, bubbly, and the cheese is melted. (Optional) Place under the broiler for a couple of minutes to brown the top of the casserole. This will brown the cheese and give it that irresistible, must dig in right away, look!
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Nutrition
Love this recipe? Join the free membership group!
Ingredients
Please refer to the printable recipe card for the exact measurements for this recipe.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ's)
Mozzarella gives you the gooey, stretchy cheese topping you'd expect from a baked Italian-style pasta dish. Cheddar adds a sharper, more savory flavor that stands up to the ground beef and tomato sauce. Using both gives the casserole more flavor than mozzarella alone.
There are a few likely culprits. Be sure to drain the diced tomatoes and any excess grease from the ground beef. The tortellini should also be drained thoroughly after cooking. Finally, let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes after it comes out of the oven. This gives the sauce time to settle and thicken before you scoop into it.
Yes, but this is one time when undercooking the tortellini really matters. Assemble the casserole as directed, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. The pasta will continue absorbing some sauce as it sits, so don't fully cook the tortellini beforehand. Take the casserole out of the refrigerator while the oven preheats and plan on adding about 10 minutes to the baking time.
Deb's top tips
Don't be Deb! 😂 The first time I made this casserole, I grabbed a skillet that was too small and ended up having to transfer everything to a big bowl just to combine it. Save yourself an extra dirty dish and start with your largest, deepest skillet. You'll want plenty of room to gently stir in the tortellini without making a mess.
More great pasta bakes
If you love this Ground Beef Tortellini Casserole, there are plenty more cheesy dinners to try! My Ground Beef Pasta Bake combines tender pasta, savory beef, tomato sauce, and plenty of melted cheese for another easy weeknight meal. Lazy Lasagna Casserole gives you all those cozy lasagna flavors without fussing with traditional layers.
And don't miss the Cheeseburger Pasta Casserole, a creamy, cheesy ground beef dinner with Rotel and plenty of comfort-food goodness.
Ground beef tortellini casserole
Whether you add a loaf of warm garlic bread, some roasted vegetables, or simply serve up big bowls as-is, there's really no need to overthink dinner tonight. Call everyone to the table, dish it up, and enjoy. I hope your family loves this one as much as we do!
Leave a Reply