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Million Dollar Ravioli Casserole

Indulge in a rich, comforting Million Dollar Ravioli Casserole, featuring layers of tender cheese ravioli, a hearty meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and a blanket of melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. This baked dish is a true crowd-pleaser and perfect for a family dinner.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 680
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meat Sauce
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 lb Ground Beef 80/20 lean
  • 1 medium Yellow Onion finely chopped
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 1 tsp Dried Oregano
  • 1/2 tsp Dried Basil
  • 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes optional, for a little heat
  • 28 oz Crushed Tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup Water
  • 1 tsp Salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper or to taste
For the Ravioli and Cheese Layers
  • 25 oz Frozen Cheese Ravioli do not thaw
  • 15 oz Ricotta Cheese whole milk recommended
  • 1 large Egg
  • 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese plus more for topping
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley chopped
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
  • 2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese divided

Equipment

  • Large Skillet
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Wooden Spoon or Spatula

Method
 

Prepare the Meat Sauce
  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
  2. Reduce heat to medium. Add chopped yellow onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic, tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil, and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  3. Pour in crushed tomatoes and water. Stir well to combine. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it gently simmer for at least 15 minutes, or up to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Prepare the Ricotta Mixture
  1. While the sauce simmers, in a large mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, large egg, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh parsley, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
Assemble the Casserole
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. Spread about 1 cup of the meat sauce evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  3. Arrange half of the frozen ravioli in a single layer over the sauce. Do not overlap too much.
  4. Carefully dollop half of the ricotta mixture over the ravioli, gently spreading it with the back of a spoon.
  5. Top the ricotta layer with about 1.5 cups of the meat sauce, spreading it evenly.
  6. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce.
  7. Repeat the layers: remaining half of the frozen ravioli, remaining ricotta mixture, and remaining meat sauce.
  8. Finish by sprinkling the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and an additional sprinkle of Parmesan cheese (if desired) over the top.
Bake and Serve
  1. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 25 minutes.
  2. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese on top is melted and lightly golden. For an extra golden-brown crust, you can carefully broil for 1-2 minutes at the end, watching closely to prevent burning.
  3. Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the layers to set and makes for easier slicing.
  4. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired, and serve hot.

Notes

For an even richer flavor, you can use a mix of ground beef and Italian sausage for the meat sauce.
Ensure your meat sauce is quite fluid when assembling, as the frozen ravioli will absorb a lot of moisture as it cooks. If it's too thick, add a little more water or broth.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave.