This Easy Baked Cheese Tortellini with Meat Sauce is cheese tortellini tossed with a hearty meat sauce, topped with mozzarella and Parmesan, and baked until golden and bubbly. It is the perfect casserole dish for busy weeknights or when you want something comforting without a long list of ingredients.

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A white baking dish filled with baked cheese tortellini in meat sauce, topped with golden, bubbly melted mozzarella and garnished with fresh chopped parsley.

Baked Cheese Tortellini with Meat Sauce

If you love Italian food, you’re going to love making this recipe. Think of it as lasagna’s easier cousin. It has the pasta, the meaty sauce, and the gooey blanket of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. All without the layering of a traditional lasagna!

The tortellini I usually use comes from Costco (I always keep a package of it in my freezer), and the meat sauce is a mix of seasoned ground beef, sometimes Italian sausage, and my favorite marinara sauce. It has become one of my family’s favorite comfort dinners, and I make it on repeat because it’s super easy to make and impossible to mess up.

Baked cheese tortellini in meat sauce, topped with golden, bubbly melted mozzarella and garnished with fresh chopped parsley.

List of Ingredients For This Baked Cheese Tortellini with Meat Sauce

Scroll down to the recipe card to see the complete list of ingredients.

Olive oil. It adds flavor and helps us sear the meat that goes into the sauce.
Garlic. I love using fresh minced garlic to infuse the olive oil before adding the ground beef. It adds so much flavor to the sauce.
Seasonings. We’ll use a simple blend of seasonings to build a delicious, flavorful meat sauce: garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, dried oregano, dried parsley, salt, and pepper. Add some crushed red pepper flakes if you like a little heat.
Ground beef. I love making this recipe with lean ground beef, but you can also use Italian sausage or a combination of the two for even more flavor. Ground turkey or chicken are also great alternatives.
Marinara sauce. Use your favorite store-bought marinara sauce or make your own homemade sauce if you have a recipe you love!
Tortellini. My favorite is the cheese tortellini from Costco. It’s incredibly flavorful, packed with cheese, and cooks in just minutes. I always keep a package in my freezer so I can make this dish whenever my family asks for it.
Cheese. Just like with lasagna, we’re going to cover the tortellini with plenty of shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese. Once it’s baked and bubbly, the cheese pull is out of this world!
Parsley. For a pop of color, sprinkle a little chopped fresh parsley over the top just before serving.

Overhead flat lay of baked cheese tortellini with meat sauce ingredients on a marble surface: cheese tortellini, Rao's marinara sauce, ground beef, shredded mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, garlic cloves, oil, garlic and onion powder, dried herbs and red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper, each labeled with text overlays.

How to Make Baked Cheese Tortellini with Meat Sauce

Scroll down to the recipe card to see detailed step-by-step instructions.

Preheat the oven and grease a baking dish.
Heat the oil in a large pot or pan. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Drain any excess grease, then stir in the seasonings and the marinara sauce.
Cook the tortellini according to the package directions. Drain and add it to the pot or pan with the meat sauce. Stir until well combined.

Transfer the tortellini and meat sauce to the prepared baking dish. Top with the cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, hot, and bubbly. Serve immediately.

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Try Any of These Variations!

One of my favorite things about this baked cheese tortellini is how easy it is to customize. You can switch up the sauce, meat, or even add some vegetables depending on what you have on hand!

Try a different meat. Ground beef is my go-to, but Italian sausage is another delicious option that adds so much flavor. You can use mild or spicy Italian sausage, or do what I sometimes like to do and use a combination of ground beef and Italian sausage. Ground chicken or turkey work great, too.
Make it meatless. You can easily leave out the meat altogether or substitute it with your favorite vegetables for a delicious vegetarian version. The cheesy tortellini, flavorful sauce, and melted cheese make this dish plenty satisfying on their own.
Switch up the sauce. I love making this recipe with a classic marinara sauce, but you can use any tomato-based pasta sauce you enjoy, like homemade marinara or vodka sauce. And for a white and creamy version, use Alfredo sauce.
Use or add different cheeses. Because honestly, can you ever have too much cheese? Add some ricotta or cottage cheese for an even more lasagna-inspired version, or experiment with provolone, fontina, or your favorite Italian cheese blend.

A serving spoon scooping cheese tortellini and meat sauce from a white baking dish, showing the hearty layers of pasta, ground beef, and tomato sauce beneath the melted mozzarella topping.

💡 Pro Tips

Don’t overcook the tortellini. Cook it according to the package directions, or slightly undercook it if you prefer, since it will continue cooking in the oven. This will help keep the tortellini from becoming too soft or mushy.
Drain the meat well. After browning the ground beef, drain any excess grease before adding the seasonings and sauce. This will keep your meat sauce from becoming too oily.
Shred your own cheese when possible. Pre-shredded mozzarella and Parmesan are convenient, but freshly shredded cheese melts much better and gives you that irresistible gooey, cheesy topping!

Close-up of cheese tortellini tossed in a rich meat sauce with ground beef, topped with fresh parsley, served on a white plate.

Tools You’ll Need

Large pot – For boiling the tortellini.
Large pan – For cooking the meat and combining everything with the sauce.
Colander – To drain the cooked tortellini.
Wooden spoon or spatula – For cooking and stirring the meat sauce.
9×13-inch (23×33 cm) baking dish – For assembling and baking the tortellini casserole.
Cheese grater – If shredding your own mozzarella, or a Microplane for grating fresh Parmesan.

A gold fork holding a bite of saucy cheese tortellini with meat sauce, with the rest of the serving in a white bowl in the background.

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