20 Minute Baked Tortellini

This Cheesy Vegetarian Tortellini Bake comes together in about 20 minutes, with less than 10 ingredients, and all in one pan! It's ideal for a busy weeknight when you're short on time but still want to get a hot meal on the table!

You Will Love This

• Refrigerated pasta is my favorite short cut to getting dinner on the table in no time! Did you know you don't have to boil or cook tortellini?! You can just bake it! Whether it's Easy Ravioli Lasagna, Baked Ravioli with Sausage, Tomato Tortellini Soup or Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad, refrigerated, cheese filled pastas are my jam! They're the perfect way to get that fresh, homemade flavor without all the work!
• It's so quick and easy! This is the perfect simple weeknight dinner when you've only got a few minutes to throw something together. There is no chopping, dicing, or slicing required for this baked tortellini. You literally just add all the ingredients to a large oven-safe pan and bake! It doesn't get much easier than that!
• It's a delicious Meatless Monday meal that your family will love! If you're trying to add more meat free meals to your family's monthly dinner rotation - this recipe is a great place to start! It's loaded with familiar flavors of pasta and spaghetti sauce and topped with ooey gooey mozzarella cheese. Your family will never even miss the meat in this dish!

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Fresh Spinach - I love the adding fresh spinach to my tortellini. It wilts right into the sauce so it's barely there but you know you're at least getting some veggies!
• Spaghetti Sauce - I definitely don't make homemade every time! Although, I do love to make a double batch of my Vegetarian Bolognese and then freeze it so I've got it on hand for meals like this. But, jarred spaghetti sauce is going to work just fine in this recipe! Our family's favorite is this brand.
• Dried Herbs - Dried oregano and dried thyme are my two favorites but you could use Italian Seasoning in their place as well. Feel free to sub with fresh thyme or fresh basil if you prefer.
• Parmesan Cheese - Parmesan adds a delicious salty, nutty flavor to the baked tortellini.
• Refrigerated Tortellini - Use your favorite store bought refrigerated tortellini. Cheese, meat, or mushroom filled will work great in this baked tortellini recipe!
• Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese - Part skim shredded mozzarella will work as well but I love the flavor that whole milk mozzarella brings to the dish.

Instructions

Add spinach, tomato sauce, water, oregano, thyme, Parmesan, tortellini, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper to a large skillet casserole dish. 

Stir everything together and toss until it's well combined. 

Sprinkle the tortellini mixture with shredded mozzarella cheese.

Cover with a lid or a tight-fitting piece of tin foil. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until tortellini is cooked al dente and the sauce is bubbly.

Remove lid/foil and broil for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese on top starts to turn dark golden brown. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and enjoy!

Tips

• You can use refrigerated or frozen tortellini for this easy cheesy baked tortellini. I prefer to use this brand of refrigerated tortellini as it seems to have more flavor and it cooks quicker than frozen. If you do choose to use frozen tortellini, just plan to increase the baking time by 5-10 minutes (possibly more) so that the frozen tortellini has time to warm through entirely.
• You could also use the shelf-stable boxed cheese tortellini, however, I would recommend cooking it according to package directions before adding it to the rest of the ingredients and baking. Boxed tortellini has a considerably longer cook time (usually 9-10 minutes) than refrigerated or frozen tortellini (which usually cooks in 3-4 minutes) so it's helpful to give it a head start by cooking it first.
• Switch up the ingredients based on what you've got on hand. I like to call this tortellini casserole a "clean out the fridge" meal. Replace the fresh spinach with leftover roasted veggies you need to use up. Use fresh mozzarella in place of the shredded mozzarella if you've got it on hand. Replace the dried herbs with fresh herbs if you've got those. Feel free to customize this recipe based on your family's taste or what you've already got in your kitchen! If you want to add some ground beef or Italian sausage for extra protein, you totally can! Just mix it right in with the marinara sauce for an easy meat sauce. You could also add some sautéed onion and minced garlic for an extra boost in flavor!

Make-Ahead, Storage, Freezing, and Reheating

• Make-Ahead: This baked tortellini is the perfect make ahead meal! Throw it together when you have time, cover it tightly and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days before baking. Let it sit out on the counter for about an hour to come to room temp before baking. You may need to add some additional baking time to account for the cold temp.
• Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Freezing: If you'd like to freeze this baked tortellini before baking, wrap it tightly with foil or saran wrap and place inside of a large freezer-safe Ziploc bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then let it sit out on the counter for about an hour to come to room temp before baking. Plan to add some extra baking time to account for the cold temperature.
• Reheating: Reheat leftovers in a 350 degree oven until warmed through or zap it in the microwave in 30-60 increments until heated through.

Pair Tortellini With

• Easy Homemade Garlic Bread
• Caprese Tomato Mozzarella Garlic Cheese Bread
• Quick & Easy Olive Cheese Bread
• Garlic & Herb Olive Oil Bread Dip
• Greek Orzo Salad

FAQ

Family Favorite Pastas

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