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    Home » Pasta Recipes

    Baked Tortellini Casserole (Tomato & Mozzarella)

    Published: Nov 16, 2023 · Modified: Jan 22, 2025 by Silvana Nava · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    If you love crispy and cheesy baked pasta, you're going to love this baked tortellini recipe!

    It's a rich and flavorful casserole of tortellini with stringy mozzarella cheese and a delicious tomato sauce.

    The recipe is very tasty, a different way to cook tortellini.

    baked tortellini - 1

    In Italy, we usually cook tortellini in meat broth. Tortellini in brodo is a must for Christmas family meals and in general for the cold season.

    However, the versions of tortellini with Bolognese sauce or with cream and peas (or mushrooms) are among the most popular and appreciated.

    The recipe for tortellini bake is easy to make and also very convenient, a bit like Gnocchi alla Sorrentina! In fact, you can make this cheesy baked tortellini casserole ahead of time and bake it just half an hour before serving!

    baked tortellini - 2

    This is also a great way to use leftover tortellini in broth: already cooked in a flavorful broth, seasoned, and put in the oven to gratin. Yum!

    Tortellini bake is perfect for Sunday or holiday dinners with friends and family. So here you are all the steps and tips to make the best baked tortellini casserole of your life!

    baked tortellini - 3

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Baked Tortellini Recipe: Directions
    • Storage
    • Make-ahead Baked Tortellini
    • Baked Tortelli: Variations and Tips
    • Recipe Card


    Ingredients

    • Prep Time: 15 Min
    • Cook Time: 35 Min
    • Servings: 4-6

    PLEASE NOTE: For the amount of tortellini shown below, I used a 25 cm (9-10 inch) square baking dish.

    • 400 g (14 oz) of tortellini. Try these Tortellini di Valeggio or make them at home with our recipe for Homemade Tortellini.
    • 300 g (1 ¼ cups) of tomato passata. We recommend Italian Passata by La Bella San Marzano. Or make homemade tomato passata with our recipe.
    • 3 tablespoons of cooking cream 
    • 120 g (4 oz) of mozzarella
    • 60 g (¾ cup) of grated Parmigiano Reggiano. Try this Italian Parmigiano Reggiano DOP 36 Months
    • 5-6 leaves of fresh basil
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Baked Tortellini Recipe: Directions

    baked tortellini recipe step 1

    Step 1) - First cook the tortellini in plenty of lightly salted water. Drain with a slotted spoon, place in a bowl and season with a tablespoon of oil to prevent them from sticking together. Toss and set aside.

    COOKING TIME FOR TORTELLINI: The cooking time for tortellini depends on the thickness of the dough. In general, however, the cooking time for fresh homemade tortellini is very short, about 3-5 minutes. If you are using packaged tortellini, follow the directions on the package.

    baked tortellini recipe step 2

    Step 2) - Dice the mozzarella. If the mozzarella is too watery, drain as much of the liquid as possible. I chose pizza mozzarella, which does not release liquid.

    Get a baking dish that can comfortably hold the tortellini in a single layer so that they do not overlap (too much). Pour 3 tablespoons of cream in the bottom of the dish. Then add the tortellini and stir.

    MOZZARELLA SUBSTITUTE: If you don't have mozzarella, any cheese will do as long as it melts well with heat and is stringy. I recommend scamorza or provola, not very aged (to stay in the Italian tradition 😉 ).

    baked tortellini recipe step 3

    Step 3) - Add the tomato passata, season with salt and add a grind of black pepper. Stir then add the diced mozzarella.

    baked tortellini recipe step 4

    Step 4) - Finish with a sprinkling of grated Parmigiano and a few fresh basil leaves.

    baked tortellini recipe step 5

    Step 5) - Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (356°F) for 20 minutes, until the cheese is completely melted and a light crust has formed on top.

    Remove the dish from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Your Baked Tortellini are done. Buon appetito!

    baked tortellini - 4

    YOU MUST ALSO TRY:

    • Pasta alla Sorrentina
    • Tortellini Panna e Prosciutto (Ham and Cream)

    Storage

    You can store baked tortellini for a couple of days in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap.

    You will then need to reheat them in the oven or pan for a few minutes so that the cheese melts again.

    Make-ahead Baked Tortellini

    You can also make baked tortellini 1 or 2 days ahead. Follow the recipe above. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and store in the coldest part of the refrigerator until ready to bake.

    Cook according to the recipe instructions (step 5).

    Freezing

    If the ingredients are fresh, you can freeze. Prepare the tortellini casserole as for the recipe. Then seal it tightly with foil. Keep in the freezer till 1 month.

    When it's time to bake, leave the pan at room temperature for an hour or so. Then bake in a preheated oven.

    Obviously the baking time will be higher because the dish is still frozen, ¾ hour to an hour.

    baked tortellini - 5

    Baked Tortelli: Variations and Tips

    It's possible to make many variations of baked Tortellini. You can create flavor combinations between the tortellini filling and the sauce used to season them. The possibilities are endless and all very tasty.

    I topped the traditional meat-filled tortellini with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. The idea is not to make the dish too heavy, since the tortellini filling is meat-based.

    However, a meat sauce is also often used for this preparation. Usually Bolognese sauce.

    You can choose the filling and seasoning you prefer. The important thing is that there is harmony between the two components and that the flavors go well together.

    Baked Tortellini with Bechamel Sauce

    For an even creamier and heartier dish, add a few tablespoons of bechamel sauce to the dressing or on top of the tortellini before baking.

    baked tortellini - 6

    Baked Tortellini with White Sauce

    If you do not like tomato sauce, you can use a sauce that does not contain tomato. For example, white Bolognese sauce.

    Or simply add ground meat or sausage to a pan with oil and a clove of garlic.
    Then add vegetables, such as mushrooms or steamed peas. Sprinkle the tortellini with the sauce and top with béchamel sauce, mozzarella and some grated Parmigiano.

    Or skip the meat and just use the béchamel and cheese. The result will be spectacular!

    Baked Tortellini with Ricotta and Spinach

    If you prefer ricotta and spinach tortellini instead of the classic meat tortellini, you can use them for this recipe.

    In this case, a sauce made with sage, butter, béchamel and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese will do the trick. You will get a truly exceptional baked tortellini.

    baked tortellini - 2

    Recipe Card

    STEP BY STEP PHOTOS ABOVE!Have a look at my step-by-step photo instructions, variations and tips. That way, you can get it perfect the first time you try it!
    baked tortellini recipe

    Baked Tortellini Recipe

    Silvana Nava
    If you love crispy and cheesy baked pasta, you're going to love this baked tortellini recipe!
    It's a rich and flavorful casserole of tortellini with stringy mozzarella cheese and a delicious tomato sauce.
    The recipe is very tasty, a different way to cook tortellini. In Italy, we usually cook tortellini in meat broth. Tortellini in brodo is a must for Christmas family meals and in general for the cold season.
    5 from 1 vote
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    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 35 minutes mins
    Total Time 49 minutes mins
    Course pasta
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 6
    Calories 286 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 400 g tortellini 14 oz
    • 300 g tomato passata 1 ¼ cups
    • 3 tablespoons cooking cream
    • 120 g mozzarella 4 oz
    • 60 g Parmigiano Reggiano. Try this Italian Parmigiano Reggiano DOP 36 Months ¾ cup, grated
    • 5-6 leaves basil fresh
    • salt to taste
    • pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Cook the tortellini in plenty of lightly salted water. Drain with a slotted spoon, place in a bowl and season with a tablespoon of oil to prevent them from sticking together. Toss and set aside.
    • Dice the mozzarella. If the mozzarella is too watery, drain as much of the liquid as possible. I chose pizza mozzarella, which does not release liquid.
    • Get a baking dish that can comfortably hold the tortellini in a single layer so that they do not overlap (too much). Pour 3 tablespoons of cream in the bottom of the dish. Then add the tortellini and stir.
    • Add the tomato passata, season with salt and add a grind of black pepper. Stir then add the diced mozzarella.
    • Finish with a sprinkling of grated Parmigiano and a few fresh basil leaves.
    • Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (356°F) for 20 minutes, until the cheese is completely melted and a light crust has formed on top.
    • Remove the dish from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Your Baked Tortellini are done.

    Notes

    PLEASE NOTE: For the amount of tortellini shown below, I used a 25 cm (9-10 inch) square baking dish.
    COOKING TIME FOR TORTELLINI: The cooking time for tortellini depends on the thickness of the dough. In general, however, the cooking time for fresh homemade tortellini is very short, about 3-5 minutes. If you are using packaged tortellini, follow the directions on the package.
    MOZZARELLA SUBSTITUTE: If you don't have mozzarella, any cheese will do as long as it melts well with heat and is stringy. I recommend scamorza or provola, not very aged (to stay in the Italian tradition 😉 ).

    Nutrition

    Calories: 286kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 16gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 443mgPotassium: 244mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 398IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 243mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword baked tortellini
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    Barbara & Silvana

    CIAO! Barbara & Silvana here! We are the authors of these amazing Italian recipes. Living in Italy, they are part of our culture, tradition and everyday life. And we want to share them with you all, straight from Italy! Learn more about us! Read our story!

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