Cheesy Weeknight Tortellini Skillet
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
25 mins
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Cook Time
20 mins
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Total Time
45 mins
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Servings
4 people
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Cheesy Weeknight Tortellini Skillet
Description
Cheesy Weeknight Tortellini Skillet brings together browned ground beef seasoned with basil and oregano, blended into a marinara base. Fresh cheese tortellini are quickly cooked and stirred into the sauce, preserving their soft, pillowy texture. Topping the mixture with torn fresh mozzarella creates pockets of melted creaminess that brown attractively during baking. The heat from the oven melds the flavors and finishes the dish with a golden bubbly cheese crust. Finished with grated Parmesan and fresh basil, this skillet meal offers layered savory notes and comforting warmth.
The method relies on using an oven-safe skillet to cook the beef and sauce, then gently mixing in the cooked tortellini to prevent breaking. Baking the casserole concentrates the flavors and melts the cheeses, giving the dish a creamy, structured texture. The balance of tender pasta, rich meat sauce, and stringy mozzarella creates a satisfying mouthfeel.
Serve this skillet as a main course alongside a crisp green or arugula salad to add freshness. It's a strong weekend or weeknight recipe when planning a filling pasta-based dinner. The leftovers reheat well, maintaining the sauce's richness and pasta's tenderness.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- salt kosher salt
- black pepper kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon basil dried
- ½ teaspoon oregano dried
- 2 garlic minced, cloves
- 28 ounces marinara sauce your favorite
- 12 ounces cheese tortellini cooked
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese torn apart, fresh
- Parmesan Cheese for topping
- basil for topping, fresh
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
- Heat a large (I like a 12 inch) oven-safe skillet over medium heat and brown the ground beef. Season it with a big pinch of salt, pepper and the basil and oregano. If I use beef, I rarely use oil or butter because the fat cooks out. If you use a very lean cut of meat, you can drizzle the pan with olive oil as needed. Break the meat apart until it is in small crumbles and browned.
- Stir in the marinara sauce and reduce the heat to low. Cook the tortellini for 3 or 4 minutes (according to the package directions) and immediately drain it, then add it to the meat sauce. Gently stir with a spatula to incorporate the tortellini without breaking it.
- Tear apart the fresh mozzarella and sprinkle it over the beef and tortellini.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden and bubbly and cheese. Sprinkle with parmesan and fresh basil to serve!
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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