The dump and bake weeknight dinner trend dominates social media feeds right now. You want a hot meal after a long workday without standing over a hot stove. A five ingredient frozen ravioli bake gives you exactly thirty minutes of free time while dinner cooks itself. Check out our related guide on easy garlic bread pairings.
Key Takeaways
- Use frozen pasta straight from the bag to save time
- Add a bottom layer of sauce to prevent sticking
- Tightly cover the baking pan with foil to lock in steam
- Let the meal rest for ten minutes before slicing
Ingredients
You need five basic components to build this meal. Grab one large bag of frozen cheese ravioli from the grocery store. Pick up two jars of your favorite marinara sauce. Buy one block of whole milk mozzarella cheese. Grab a wedge of fresh parmesan cheese. Get one bunch of fresh basil for a bright garnish.
Fresh ingredients upgrade the final taste of the dish. Quality sauce dictates the entire flavor profile. Whole milk cheese melts much better than part skim varieties. Freshly grated parmesan adds a sharp salty kick. You build complex flavor profiles from very simple building blocks.
Pro Tip Grate all your cheese by hand to get the best melt texture.
Save this idea to your Pinterest.
Instructions
Preheat your oven to four hundred degrees. Spray a large baking pan with nonstick spray. Spread half a cup of marinara sauce across the bottom of the pan. Place a single layer of frozen ravioli over the sauce. Pour half of the remaining sauce over the pasta. Sprinkle one cup of shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Add the remaining ravioli in a second even layer. Cover the pasta with the rest of the sauce. Top the dish with the remaining mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil. Bake the covered dish for forty minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another fifteen minutes until the cheese bubbles. Let the pan sit for ten minutes before serving.
Pro Tip Let the baked pan rest before slicing to keep the layers intact.
Save this idea to your Pinterest.
Popular Asked Questions
Do I need to boil ravioli before baking a casserole?
You skip the boiling step for this dish. You place frozen or refrigerated pasta straight from the bag right into your baking pan. The pasta absorbs the moisture from your sauce and the trapped steam inside the pan. This makes a dump and bake weeknight dinner very fast.
Can I make ravioli casserole ahead of time?
You assemble this entire dish hours or days before baking. You build the layers in your pan and cover it tightly with plastic wrap. You store the unbaked pan in your refrigerator for up to two days. You remove the plastic wrap and swap it for aluminum foil before placing it in the hot oven.
Can I bake ravioli casserole from frozen?
You bake this meal directly from a frozen state. You assemble the layers in a freezer safe dish and freeze the whole pan for up to three months. You place the frozen pan right into your oven when you want a hot meal. You double the total baking time to account for the frozen center.
What are good substitutes for cottage cheese in ravioli casserole?
You swap cottage cheese for several different creamy options. You use standard ricotta cheese for a classic Italian flavor and texture. You pick room temperature cream cheese for a heavier and richer sauce. You choose mascarpone cheese for a smooth and slightly sweet finish.
Conclusion
The frozen ravioli casserole recipe dominates the dump and bake weeknight dinner trend. You save massive amounts of time by skipping the boiling water. You feed a large family a hot satisfying meal with only five minutes of prep work. You customize the dish many ways with different sauces and vegetables. What is your favorite type of cheese to melt on top of a pasta bake?
Follow us on Pinterest for more budget friendly family dinner inspiration.
Leave a Comment