Take frozen ravioli to the next level.
One of the handiest things you can keep in your freezer is a bag of cheese ravioli. All by itself, it makes a quick, easy meal for those nights when you just need to get something on the table fast. But it’s also much more than that. Dressed up with different veggies and sauces, it can be the basis for all kinds of tasty, interesting dinners.
One of my favorite examples is this Easy Crockpot Lasagna Ravioli. It’s got all the flavor of a classic Italian lasagna – pasta, zesty marinara sauce, smooth ricotta, and gooey melted cheese – but with way less work. The only downside? You need a Crockpot to make it.
To fix that, I’ve created this oven-based Baked Ravioli Casserole. It’s like a great lasagna, but much easier to make. Instead of cooking your noodles separately and stacking up multiple layers of sauce, pasta, and cheese, you just put the frozen ravioli directly into the pan, layered in between sauce and cheese. A sprinkle of Parmesan on top gives it an extra-cheesy golden top.
Served with a nice green salad on the side – and maybe a loaf of garlic bread – it’s an Italian feast easy enough to whip up on a weeknight.
How can I store leftovers of this casserole?
- Store any leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Can I make this Baked Ravioli Casserole ahead of time?
- You could make this the night before and refrigerate it until you are ready to cook. Keep in mind that the ravioli will thaw as it sits so you will need to keep an eye on it and significantly reduce the baking time.
Can I add meat to this dish?
- Yes! You can use any meat-filled ravioli in place of the cheese-filled ravioli or you can layer in some cooked and crumbled ground beef, cooked and shredded chicken, cooked and shredded pork, cooked and crumbled sausage, or your favorite meat.
Can I use refrigerated or homemade ravioli?
- Frozen is really the best pasta for this dish since it bakes for a long period of time. Fresh and refrigerated pastas both absorb different amounts of liquid as well. I recommend sticking with frozen pasta for this dish.
Can I use pre-shredded/grated cheese in place of fresh?
- I always recommend freshly grated cheese as it melts much easier. Pre-shredded/grated cheeses contain additives that prevents them from melting well. If you’re in a pinch pre-shredded would work, it just won’t melt as well. Keep an eye on your dish and remove from the oven when the sauce starts bubbling since you won’t be able to look to the melt of the cheese to tell when it’s cooked.
How to Make Baked Ravioli Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 400° F. Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Pour ½ cup of the marinara sauce into the bottom of the baking dish and spread to coat.
- Add a layer of ravioli on top of the pasta sauce, overlapping the ravioli a bit if necessary. Pour half of the remaining sauce (about 1 cup) on top of the ravioli and top with half (1 cup) of the mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with half of the Italian seasoning.
- Add the remaining ravioli on top of the mozzarella and top with the rest of the marinara sauce.
- Lastly, sprinkle the remaining cup of mozzarella cheese on top. Add the Parmesan cheese and sprinkle with the remaining Italian seasoning. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
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Baked Ravioli Casserole
Ingredients
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 25 ounces cheese-filled frozen ravioli
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning divided
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° F. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Pour ½ cup of the marinara sauce into the bottom of the baking dish and spread to coat.
- Add a layer of ravioli on top of the pasta sauce, overlapping the ravioli a bit if necessary. Pour half of the remaining sauce (about 1 cup) on top of the ravioli and top with half (1 cup) of the mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with half of the Italian seasoning.
- Add the remaining ravioli on top of the mozzarella and top with the rest of the marinara sauce.
- Lastly, sprinkle the remaining cup of mozzarella cheese on top. Add the Parmesan cheese and sprinkle with the remaining Italian seasoning.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
Video
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Nutrition Information:
Nutrition Disclaimer
Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Kathi says
I make a similar recipe using the triangle cheese ravs from Costco, but I saute 1 pound of hamburger with grated onion, 1 T minsed garlic clove and them assemble and bake as you have in this post.
Housegoddess says
I made this with the refrigerated fresh Rama ravioli. I used two different ones. Also added a tad of ricotta with the mozzarella. Salt & pepper between layers is important. Came out great for a group gathering.
Cathy says
It came out so yummy!!! This recipe is awesome!!!