Description
This Cheesy Italian Sausage Ravioli Bake is a comforting and hearty Italian-inspired casserole featuring layers of savory ground Italian sausage, tender cheese ravioli, rich marinara sauce, and a generous topping of melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for weeknight dinners, this baked dish delivers gooey cheese, meaty flavors, and a satisfying crunchy topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Sauce
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- 1 24-ounce jar prepared marinara sauce
Pasta and Cheese
- 1 large bag prepared cheese ravioli (approximately 20–24 ounces)
- 2 – 2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Topping
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- Olive oil (for drizzling)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Heat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook Sausage: In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground Italian sausage thoroughly until no longer pink. Drain excess fat, then stir in the marinara sauce until the mixture is combined and heated through.
- Prepare First Layer: Spread one-third of the sausage and sauce mixture evenly in the bottom of an oven-proof 11 x 14 baking dish. Layer half of the cheese ravioli over the sauce, then sprinkle about one-third of the shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
- Add Second Layer: Spread another third of the sausage sauce mixture over the cheese layer. Cover this with the remaining ravioli, then ladle on the remaining sausage sauce. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the dish.
- Prepare Topping: In a small bowl, mix together the panko bread crumbs and grated Parmesan cheese. Evenly sprinkle this mixture over the top layer of mozzarella cheese. Drizzle lightly with olive oil to help the topping brown.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes to meld flavors and heat through.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking until the baked ravioli is bubbly and the top is slightly browned, about 5-10 additional minutes.
- Rest and Serve: Let the ravioli bake rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow the layers to set and cool slightly for easier slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use high-quality marinara sauce for the best flavor.
- You can substitute sweet or hot Italian sausage to adjust the spice level.
- For a crispier topping, you can toast the panko and Parmesan mixture lightly in a dry skillet before sprinkling.
- Leftovers store well covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat covered in the oven to maintain moisture.
Keywords: Italian sausage bake, ravioli casserole, baked ravioli, cheesy Italian dish, easy dinner recipe