Ravioli Casserole Recipe

This easy layered Ravioli Casserole Recipe is customizable. It’s simple enough for weekday family dinners, yet it’s impressive enough for casual entertaining. It’s an easy weeknight casserole the whole family will love.

Ingredients to Make Ravioli Casserole Recipe

Typically, when you make ravioli, you cook them in boiling water on the stovetop and top with your favorite pesto, spaghetti or alfredo sauce. All of those are delicious options but this easy dinner recipe gives you the option of skipping the boiling, and goes straight to tossing everything into a casserole dish and baking it all at one time. It works like a charm, and takes out one step to expedite dinner preparation on busy weeknights. Ingredients to make easy Ravioli Casserole: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Italian Sausage: Mild Italian sausage forms the meat layer.
• Onion: Sweet onion, white onion or yellow onion for a stronger flavor.
• Olive Oil: To cook the sausage and onion.
• Seasonings: Dry Italian seasoning, garlic salt or plain salt and crushed red pepper flakes. You can adjust the spice to taste.
• Fresh Garlic: Four medium garlic cloves garlic and a hint of earthiness and spice.
• Refrigerated Ravioli: One 20 ounce package refrigerated four cheese ravioli.
• Spaghetti Sauce: Four cups garlic, onion and oregano seasoned spaghetti or marinara sauce (Or use your favorite brand).
• Cheese: Shredded mozzarella cheese is a must for binding the layers and adding flavor. You could use an Italian cheese blend for a shortcut. 
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds flavor and gives the top a golden color.
• Garnish: Fresh Italian parsley or fresh basil

How to Make the Best Baked Ravioli Casserole Recipe

This homemade ravioli casserole is a family pleasing meal that hits all of the flavor points of lasagna with much less prep work. It’s also terrific for entertaining friends since it can be fully assembled in advance, then baked just before serving.

• Heat Oven and Prepare Dish – Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
• Cook Sausage – In a large skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Add sausage and onion. Cook until no pink remains.
• Add Seasonings – To the skillet add Italian seasoning, salt, red pepper flakes and minced garlic. Stir well and cook for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat, drain any excess fat.
• Assemble Casserole – Spread 1 cup sauce on bottom of dish. Arrange 1/3 ravioli over sauce. Sprinkle with 1/3 cooked sausage and 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat process, ending with sauce drizzled over the top.
• Cover and Bake – Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30-35 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 375°F.
• Top with Cheese Mixture – Uncover, sprinkle with reserved shredded mozzarella and Parmesan. Continue to bake until the cheese has melted and the sauce is bubbly around the edges and ravioli is tender.
• Serve – Let stand 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley and additional Parmesan cheese.

Tips for Making Ravioli Casserole

• Kitchen Tools You’ll Need: 13×9-inch baking dish, measuring cups, measuring spoons, cheese grater, large skillet or saucepan, sharp knife, chopping board.
• There’s No Need to Cook the Ravioli: The ravioli don’t have to be precooked for this recipe.
• Create Layers: I prefer to layer the cooked sausage with the sauce and ravioli separately. This allows the sauce to soften and cook the ravioli evenly.
• You can use Cheese Ravioli or Alternate Flavors of Ravioli: You can use any flavor of ravioli that you enjoy. Spinach ravioli, prosciutto and ricotta ravioli or any other filling that your family enjoys. See how to make homemade ravioli here on Well Plated.
• Use Your Favorite Pasta Sauce: You can adapt using your favorite flavor of marinara or spaghetti sauce. I find a thicker sauce works best and isn’t watery after baking.
• Assemble in Layers: It’s best to arrange the ravioli in a single layer rather than dumping into the dish for even cooking.
• Leave Room for the Ravioli to Expand: Keep in mind that ravioli will expand while baking, so if it looks a little sparse, in this instance, that’s a good thing.

Recipe Variations

• Frozen Ravioli: This recipe uses refrigerated, not frozen ravioli. Should you choose to use frozen ravioli, they do need to be thawed first.
• Protein: You can use mild or spicy Italian sausage for this recipe. Should you choose to use spicy, you may want to reduce or omit the red pepper flakes in the recipe.
• Substitution for Sausage: You can use ground beef, ground turkey or ground chicken in place of Italian sausage for this ravioli casserole recipe.
• Veggies: You can omit the protein and use sautéed vegetables instead. Onion, mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini and squash would all make a delicious vegetarian version.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers: Store this million dollar ravioli casserole in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating: Reheat in single servings in the microwave.
• Freezer: Cool completely then freeze covered with plastic wrap and aluminum foil for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat just before serving.

Southern Side Dishes to Serve with Ravioli Casserole

Salad is an easy side dish to accompany any pasta dish, isn’t it?

• A Wedge Salad would go beautifully with this casserole.
• Another side dish option is my Panko Parmesan Roasted Broccoli or Oven Roasted Asparagus.
• Add a loaf of Cheesy Garlic and Herb Bread or Italian Herb Beer Bread.

More Delicious Casserole Recipes to Make

Casseroles are a fabulous choice for busy families. They help stretch bits and pieces of ingredients into a full meal and can often be assembled in advance for a timesaver. Other family pleasing casseroles you may enjoy:

• Barbecue Beef Tater Tot Casserole will have them asking for more.
• Chicken Cordon Bleu Noodle Casserole is an easy way to enjoy the flavors of this French classic.
• Skillet Cowboy Rice Casserole is a once dish meal packed with flavor and color, too.
• Crock Pot Pasta Casserole can simmer while you attend to other things.
• Hot Dog Cheesy Macaroni Casserole is a kid favorite!

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• 13 x 9 inch Dish
• Cheese Grater
• Spatula
• Chopping Board and Knives