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Cheese Ravioli Bake

Featured in Pasta Night Made Easy.

Turn frozen ravioli into a delicious meal with seasoned meat sauce, creamy cheese layers, and a quick prep time of about an hour.
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A woman wearing a chef's hat and apron.
Updated on Sat, 19 Apr 2025 00:30:31 GMT
Melty cheese and meat ravioli bake with parsley garnish in a red sauce, served in a baking dish. Pin it
Melty cheese and meat ravioli bake with parsley garnish in a red sauce, served in a baking dish. | cookbybook.com

Brace yourself for my jaw-dropping Cash Cow Ravioli Casserole! I've tweaked this dish through many family get-togethers and it really matches its fancy name. Packed with soft ravioli, rich meat sauce and an amazing velvety cheese mix, you'll taste pure comfort in every mouthful.

The Cash Cow Wonder

This meal has turned into my go-to choice for regular dinners and fancy gatherings alike. Grabbing ready-made stuff like frozen ravioli and store-bought marinara lets me whip up something that seems totally fancy without spending forever in the kitchen. When those different parts come together, it's something really special.

Your Ingredient Goldmine

  • Frozen Cheese Ravioli: 1 package (about 20 oz), already thawed for quicker cooking and extra cheese flavor.
  • Ground Beef: 1 lb, cooked until brown for a tasty, meaty foundation. Grab lean meat to cut down on grease.
  • Marinara Sauce: 2 cups from any brand you love, adding deep tomato flavor.
  • Cream Cheese: 8 oz, left at room temp, bringing creamy tang to the mix.
  • Sour Cream: 1/2 cup, making everything extra smooth with a bit of zip.
  • Parmesan Cheese: 1/2 cup, grated up, throwing in salty nuttiness.
  • Mozzarella Cheese: 2 cups, shredded up, creating that golden bubble on top.
  • Garlic Powder and Italian Seasoning: 1 tsp of each, boosting everything with classic Italian taste.
  • Salt: Just enough to make all flavors pop throughout.

Crafting Your Culinary Fortune

Get That Oven Hot
Warm it to 375°F (190°C) and coat a 9x13-inch dish with butter or oil so nothing sticks.
Handle The Meat First
Grab a pan and brown your beef on medium until it's done. Mix in your marinara and put it aside.
Whip Up The Creamy Stuff
Take a bowl and mix cream cheese, sour cream, Parmesan, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning until it's all smooth.
Stack Everything Up
Put half your ravioli in the dish, cover with half the meat mix, then spread some creamy mixture. Do it all again and finish with mozzarella on top.
Cook It
Cover with foil and stick it in for 25 minutes. Then take the foil off and give it 10 more minutes till the cheese turns golden and bubbly.

Storing Your Treasure

This dish stays good in your fridge about 3 days if you keep it sealed tight. You can even freeze it up to 2 months if you want to plan ahead. Just let it thaw overnight when you're ready to eat it again. I always warm it up in the oven so the cheese gets all melty again.

Fun Variations

I'm always playing around with this dish! Sometimes I throw in some fake meat instead of beef when my veggie pals come over, or try different cheese combos. Tucking in some cooked spinach or mushrooms makes it even better. A spoonful of pesto mixed in the sauce takes everything up a notch.

Winning Tips

Don't forget to thaw your ravioli first, it really changes how the whole thing turns out. I always grate cheese right before cooking cause it melts way better than the bagged stuff. That time with the foil on keeps everything juicy, and letting it sit before you serve helps all those layers stick together just right.

Stunning Presentation

We usually eat this with a simple Caesar salad and some buttery garlic bread on the side. For fancy nights I'll cook some asparagus or zucchini too. A glass of red wine makes dinner feel extra nice, or try some bubbly Italian soda if you don't want alcohol.

Totally Worth It

This casserole really lives up to its flashy name! It's now the thing everyone asks me to make for family dinners and group meals. The mix of easy cooking and amazing taste makes it super valuable. You'll get why everyone goes crazy for this dish after your first bite.

A close-up of a baked dish featuring layers of meat, cheese, and ravioli topped with melted mozzarella and herbs. Pin it
A close-up of a baked dish featuring layers of meat, cheese, and ravioli topped with melted mozzarella and herbs. | cookbybook.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I swap fresh ravioli for frozen?
Absolutely, but fresh ravioli cooks faster. Keep an eye on it and shorten the baking time if needed.
→ Why let it sit before eating?
Resting helps everything settle and makes it easier to cut and serve without falling apart.
→ Can I prep this dish earlier?
Sure can! Put it together earlier in the day and store in the fridge. Bake it longer if it's cold.
→ What other meats work?
Try using ground turkey or Italian sausage for a change of flavor.
→ Why cover it with foil at first?
Foil keeps the cheese from browning too early while letting the ravioli cook evenly in the sauce.

Cheese Ravioli Bake

A comforting bake with cheesy ravioli, seasoned meat sauce, and a velvety cheese layer that’s perfect for any night.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
45 Minutes
Total Time
60 Minutes
By: Susan

Category: Pasta

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American Italian

Yield: 6 Servings (1 casserole)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

01 A 28-ounce jar of marinara sauce.
02 8 ounces of softened cream cheese.
03 1 pound of ground beef.
04 A 25-ounce pack of frozen cheese ravioli.
05 1 cup of grated Parmesan, freshly shredded.
06 1 cup of sour cream.
07 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese, split in half.
08 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
09 1 teaspoon of Italian blend spices.
10 Half a teaspoon of salt.

Instructions

Step 01

Get your oven heated to 400°F, and lightly oil a 9x13-inch pan.

Step 02

Cook the ground beef until browned and drain the extra grease. Mix it with marinara sauce.

Step 03

Stir together the cream cheese, sour cream, half the Parmesan, and spices. Toss the frozen ravioli into the mix.

Step 04

Put a layer of the ravioli mixture in the dish, add the meat sauce on top, and sprinkle with the rest of the Parmesan and mozzarella.

Step 05

Cover the dish with foil, bake for 30 minutes, then bake uncovered for another 15 minutes until bubbly.

Step 06

Let it sit for 10 minutes before dishing up.

Notes

  1. You can prep it in advance.
  2. Resting helps you cut clean slices.
  3. Try swapping the ground beef for another type of meat.

Tools You'll Need

  • A 9x13-inch pan.
  • A big skillet.
  • A bowl for mixing.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Dairy products (cheese, cream cheese, sour cream).
  • Contains wheat (in the ravioli).
  • Eggs are in the pasta.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 650
  • Total Fat: 35 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 45 g
  • Protein: 32 g