Ravioli Casserole (often called “Lazy Lasagna”) delivers all the rich, comforting flavors of a traditional baked lasagna with a fraction of the prep work. By using refrigerated or frozen ravioli instead of flat pasta sheets, you skip the steps of boiling, draining, and layering ricotta filling separately.
Pro-Tips for Perfect Baked Ravioli
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Do NOT Thaw or Pre-Boil the Ravioli: Use frozen or fresh ravioli straight from the package. Cooking them in the oven directly in the marinara sauce prevents the pasta from getting mushy or breaking apart.
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Cover First, Then Uncover: Baking covered with foil for the first half traps steam to cook the pasta through. Uncovering for the last 10–15 minutes lets the mozzarella melt into a bubbling, golden crust.
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Let It Rest: Allow the casserole to sit for 10 minutes after pulling it out of the oven so the layers set cleanly before slicing.
Easy Cheesy Ravioli Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
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24 oz (1.5 lbs) frozen or fresh cheese ravioli (or meat/spinach ravioli)
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1 jar (24 oz) your favorite marinara or pasta sauce
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1 lb ground Italian sausage or ground beef (optional, for a meat sauce)
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2 cups (8 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
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½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
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1 tbsp Italian seasoning
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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2 tbsp fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
1.Brown the Meat (Optional):Adds rich flavor and extra protein.
If using ground meat or sausage, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and ground meat, cooking for 6 to 8 minutes until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess fat, then stir in the jar of marinara sauce and Italian seasoning.
2.Prep the Baking Dish:
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread about ¾ cup of marinara sauce evenly across the bottom to prevent the bottom layer of ravioli from sticking.
3.Layer Ravioli, Sauce, & Cheese:Repeat for two complete layers.
Arrange half of the frozen ravioli in a single layer across the bottom of the dish. Top with half of the remaining meat sauce, then sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Repeat with the remaining ravioli, remaining sauce, and top with the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
4.Cover & Bake:Steam cooks the frozen pasta tender.
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil (spray the underside of the foil with non-stick spray so the cheese doesn’t stick). Bake for 30 minutes.
5.Uncover & Melt Cheese:Rest before serving.
Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and lightly golden around the edges. Garnish with fresh chopped basil or parsley and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
