This tortellini bake is made with cheese tortellini, a simple sausage pasta sauce, and mozzarella cheese. The casserole is easy to put together with minimal prep work and amazing results. It’s budget-friendly comfort food that’s a crowd-pleaser for sure.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword easy pasta dinners, tortellini
Prep Time 15 minutesminutes
Cook Time 1 hourhour5 minutesminutes
Build the casserole and rest time 25 minutesminutes
Total Time 1 hourhour45 minutesminutes
Servings 6
Calories 686kcal
Author Elizabeth Rodriguez
Ingredients
1tablespoonOlive Oil
1poundMild Italian Sausagecasings removed and torn into small pieces or use bulk sausage
24ounceJar Pasta Saucemeatless variety
½teaspoonItalian Seasoning
1tablespoonButter
⅓cupPanko Breadcrumbs
12ouncesDry Three Cheese Tortellini
1tablespoonSaltfor the pasta water
8ouncesShredded Mozzarella Cheese2 cups
Chopped Parsley for garnishoptional
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet or pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, but not smoking, add the sausage. Cook for 4-5 minutes until browned. Stir frequently while breaking up any large pieces with a wooden spoon or spatula.
Add the pasta sauce and the Italian seasoning to the to the sausage. Let it come to a simmer. Then, lower the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 25-30 minutes.
Stir the sauce occasionally and keep it at a simmer. Raise or lower the heat as needed.
Make the breadcrumbs topping and boil the tortellini while the sauce cooks. Prepare the tortellini last so they don’t sit out too long and start to stick.
Melt the butter in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs and stir until they are coated with the butter. Take the skillet off the heat.
Cook the tortellini using the package directions for al dente. Remember to add salt to the boiling water to season the pasta. Drain well when done.
Build the tortellini bake
Preheat the oven to 350°F
Let everything cool down some before handling so it is not simmering and steaming.
Use a baking dish (oven-safe casserole dish) that is at least 11x7x2 inch (2.3 quart).
Add about ⅓ of the sauce on the bottom of the dish. Spread it so that it covers the surface.
Place half the tortellini over the sauce arranging it so it covers the entire surface.
Top the tortellini with half of the remaining pasta sauce.
Sprinkle half the shredded mozzarella over the sauce.
Make the top layer by arranging the remaining tortellini pasta over the cheese. Top with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle the remaining cheese and top with the prepared breadcrumbs.
Bake (uncovered) for 30 minutes until golden on top and bubbly on the edges.
Let it rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Notes
Don’t overcook the tortellini so it doesn't become mushy.
Hold the salt (except for the pasta water) because the sausage, sauce, tortellini, and mozzarella cheese all contain salt already. You can always taste the sauce at the end and add salt if needed.
Use a loose pasta sauce that will hold up to the cooking and baking time without getting too thick.