Ravioli Casserole

We love ravioli riffs, as evidenced by our popular ravioli soup, ravioli lasagna and this super yummy ravioli casserole, which tastes like lasagna without all the fuss. Time-saving ingredients like prepared spaghetti sauce and store-bought refrigerated ravioli make it a cinch to put together, and you can even get the littles involved when you’re ready to assemble this crowd-pleasing dish.

Perfect for a new spin on pasta night or a make-ahead meal you can heat and eat when last-minute guests show up, it’s cheesy, saucy and highly addictive. So do yourself a favor and make two, one to freeze and one to dig into immediately. You can thank us later.

Ingredients for Ravioli Casserole

Alejandro Monfort for Taste of Home

• Ravioli: We kept it classic with plain cheese ravioli, but you can get creative with other fillings, and yes, you can use frozen ravioli instead of fresh from the refrigerated section, but more on that later.
• Pasta sauce: For a super saucy casserole you’ll need pasta sauce, like tomato basil, marinara or four-cheese.
• Cottage cheese: We also employed protein-packed cottage cheese to make this decadent dish a tad healthier—and extra creamy.
• Mozzarella cheese: Shredded mozzarella will give you that melty mozz pull you’re after and impart lots of milky, tangy flavor.
• Parmesan cheese: Salty, nutty, crumbly Parmesan cheese makes everything better, including ravioli casseroles.
• Parsley: For a peppery, herbaceous garnish, sprinkle minced fresh parsley on top of your casserole at the end. Basil works too, if that’s what you have on hand.

Directions

Step 1: Prep your pasta

Alejandro Monfort for Taste of Home

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Then boil a pot of salted water and prepare the ravioli according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

Step 2: Layer the casserole

Alejandro Monfort for Taste of Home

Start by spreading 1 cup of pasta sauce in an ungreased 13×9-inch baking dish. Layer with half the ravioli, 1-1/4 cups sauce, 1 cup cottage cheese and 2 cups mozzarella. Repeat the layers, sprinkling the entire dish with grated Parmesan cheese at the end.

Step 3: Bake and garnish

Alejandro Monfort for Taste of Home

Bake the casserole uncovered until it’s bubbly and the cheese turns golden brown in spots, 30 to 40 minutes. Let it stand for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. If desired, sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Ravioli Casserole Variations

• Pick a different pasta: Instead of plain cheese ravis, try spinach and ricotta, four-cheese or chicken and roasted garlic. You can even forgo ravioli for another stuffed pasta like tortellini, agnolotti, manicotti or cappelletti.
• Switch up the sauce: You don’t need to stick to regular red sauce for this casserole. A white sauce, sun-dried tomato sauce, four-cheese or pesto would be delicious here, depending on the stuffed pasta you choose.
• Add meat: This cheesy pasta casserole is a blank canvas that can be modified in plenty of ways. Try adding sauteed pancetta or guanciale to the layered dish, or sliced Italian sausage, cooked ground beef or shredded chicken. All these variations sneak in protein and make the casserole a bit more complex at the same time.

How to Store Ravioli Casserole

Casseroles were invented with leftovers in mind, as were storage containers with lids. When it comes time to pack up the remaining ravioli, simply transfer them to sealed airtight containers to heat and eat during the week, or go the fuss-free route with a layer of tin foil or plastic wrap over your current dish.

How long does ravioli casserole last?

You can go back for seconds (and thirds) of this casserole without worry for up to three days—as long as you store leftovers in the refrigerator. After that, the ravis can start to get a bit mushy.

Can you freeze ravioli casserole?

Yes, but we advise freezing the unbaked version. That way you can thaw it, pop it in the oven and take a bite out of a cheesy, just-baked casserole rather than try to reinvigorate a cooked, frozen, defrosted, cooked-again one.

Can you make ravioli ahead of time for this casserole?

You bet! If you want to space out the steps to building this casserole, prepare your portions of ravioli according to the package directions, then allow them to cool before transferring them to a sealed container in the fridge. They will be good for one to two days.

Ravioli Casserole Tips

Alejandro Monfort for Taste of Home

Can I use frozen ravioli instead of fresh?

You sure can. And you don’t even have to thaw them first—they will cook while baking.

How do I make a baked ravioli casserole better?

Add more fresh herbs, spices and seasonings. Aside from the minced parsley, we didn’t add a whole lot to this recipe, so feel free to amp up your store-bought sauce with fresh basil, dried oregano, garlic powder, red pepper flakes or Calabrian chiles.

How do I know when my ravioli casserole recipe is ready?

The cheese will be bubbling and starting to turn golden brown in spots. This is when it’s time to take it out of the oven.

What should I serve with ravioli casserole?

All the Italian-American favorites! Think garlic bread, Caesar salad, chicken parmigiana or sauteed spinach with pine nuts.