Description
Million Dollar Ravioli Casserole merges classic Italian comfort with hearty Midwestern family-style cooking. Layers of cheese-filled ravioli, rich meat sauce, and melted cheese create a crowd-pleasing meal you can savor with loved ones.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- 1 large egg
- 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 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz or 680 g) marinara sauce
- 1 package (25 oz or 709 g) frozen or fresh cheese ravioli
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried parsley)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 375F (190C) and thoroughly coat a large baking dish with nonstick spray to prevent adhering.
- Meat Sauce Creation: In a skillet, brown ground beef with onions, draining excess fat. Infuse with garlic, then blend in marinara sauce, simmering until flavors meld into a rich, aromatic mixture.
- Creamy Blend Assembly: Whisk ricotta, sour cream, cream cheese, egg, parsley, salt, and pepper until smooth, creating a luxurious binding layer for the casserole.
- Layering Technique: Spread a base of meat sauce in the prepared dish. Arrange ravioli, cover with the creamy ricotta mixture, top with additional meat sauce, and generously sprinkle mozzarella. Repeat layering, finishing with a decadent blanket of mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
- Baking Process: Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue roasting until cheese melts into a golden, bubbling surface, approximately 10-15 minutes.
- Finishing Touch: Rest the casserole for several minutes to set. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve, presenting a tantalizing culinary masterpiece.
Notes
- Meat Browning Technique: Ensure ground beef is thoroughly caramelized and excess fat is drained to prevent a greasy texture and enhance overall flavor intensity.
- Cheese Mixture Consistency: Whisk ricotta blend until smooth and uniform, avoiding lumps for a creamy, luxurious mouthfeel that distributes evenly throughout the casserole.
- Layer Precision: Create even, balanced layers to guarantee each bite contains a perfect ratio of meat, cheese, and ravioli, preventing dry or overly saturated sections.
- Foil Coverage Strategy: Use aluminum foil during initial baking to prevent cheese from burning while allowing internal ingredients to cook thoroughly, then uncover for final golden browning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 554
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 890 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 119 mg