Description
Cheesy, golden-brown Baked Ravioli provides a comforting Italian-inspired feast that melts hearts and delights palates. Crisp edges, rich fillings, and a luxurious sauce create an irresistible dinner perfect for sharing with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 25 ounces (708 grams) frozen cheese ravioli
- 3/4 pound (340 grams) ground beef
- 1 (28 ounces) (794 grams) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Cooking Liquid:
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Instructions
- Warm the culinary workspace oven to a robust 425°F, preparing for a delectable transformation.
- Delicately coat an 8×8-inch ceramic vessel with protective cooking spray, reserving it for the upcoming layered masterpiece.
- Navigate a large skillet over medium thermal intensity, coaxing ground beef into a rich, caramelized state. Eliminate surplus lipids through careful drainage.
- Activate a petite saucepan, introducing olive oil and allowing gentle heat to embrace fragrant garlic, creating an aromatic foundation in approximately one minute.
- Cascade crushed tomatoes into the garlic-infused oil, complementing with verdant basil and a whisper of black pepper. Guide the mixture to a gentle simmer, then gracefully retire from heat.
- Distribute a foundational layer of tomato essence across the prepared ceramic canvas, establishing a robust base.
- Arrange the first stratum of frozen ravioli with meticulous precision, ensuring complete coverage.
- Generously scatter ground beef fragments and sprinkle a constellation of mozzarella cheese across the pasta landscape.
- Lavish the layer with a cascading river of tomato sauce, ensuring thorough saturation.
- Replicate the architectural process: alternate ravioli, seasoned beef, cheese, and sauce layers with rhythmic consistency.
- Culminate the stratification with a final tier, guaranteeing complete sauce submersion of the pasta pillows.
- Crown the creation with remaining mozzarella, promising a golden, molten summit.
- Drape the ceramic vessel with aluminum armor, protecting the developing flavors.
- Orchestrate a 25-minute thermal journey within the preheated oven.
- Unveil the protective foil, allowing direct heat to transform the cheese into a gloriously bronzed landscape.
- After an additional 10-minute thermal embrace, remove and permit a brief 5-minute restoration period before serving.
Notes
- Customize the meat by using ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version.
- Enhance flavor depth by adding a pinch of red pepper flakes or Italian seasoning to the tomato sauce.
- Prevent sauce burning by ensuring ravioli is completely covered and using a tight-fitting foil during initial baking.
- Choose fresh or frozen ravioli based on convenience, but avoid overcrowding the baking dish for even heating.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg