Recipe Background
It's just like how Mom used to make it. Actually — and don't tell her we said this— this might be a little better! Momma's Ravioli Bake is cheesy, meaty, Italian-classic deliciousness and we just can't get enough! Layers of your favorite raviolis swim in a rich and savory homemade meat sauce, with a blanket of melted cheese right on top! Momma's Ravioli Bake isn't just comfort food; it might be the comfiest food ever!
It's just like how Mom used to make it. Actually — and don't tell her we said this— this might be a little better! Momma's Ravioli Bake is cheesy, meaty, Italian-classic deliciousness and we just can't get enough! Layers of your favorite raviolis swim in a rich and savory homemade meat sauce, with a blanket of melted cheese right on top! Momma's Ravioli Bake isn't just comfort food; it might be the comfiest food ever!
Ingredients
For the meat sauce:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup onions finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 3 cups tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the bake:
- 1 (25-ounce) package refrigerated ravioli
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
- fresh parsley optional, to taste, for garnish
Directions
- In a large pot or a 4-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the oil and heat until it is sizzling hot, about 2 minutes.
- Add the ground beef and cook, while crumbling, until it is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the onions and the garlic to the beef and cook, while stirring, until the onions are tender and the garlic is very fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce, the tomato paste, 1/4 cup of the parsley, and the salt to the beef mixture and stir well to combine.
- Bring the meat sauce to a simmer.
- Reduce the heat to low and allow it to simmer, uncovered, until thickened, about 10 minutes.
- In a 9x13-inch casserole pan, evenly spread 1 cup of the meat sauce.
- Add 1/3 of the raviolis evenly in a single layer over the meat sauce layer in the baking dish.
- Spread 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese evenly over the ravioli layer.
- Repeat the layers twice.
- Top the casserole evenly with the parmesan cheese.
- Lightly grease a large sheet of aluminum foil on one side.
- Cover the casserole dish with the greased-side of the foil facing down.
- Bake the ravioli bake, covered, for 45-50 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake again, uncovered, until the melted cheese turns golden-brown and is bubbly, about 20 minutes.
- Optionally, switch the oven to the broiler setting and broil until the cheese is crispy and brown, about 3-4 minutes.
- Allow the bake to rest for 10 minutes.
- Serve garnished with the extra parsley.
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