Ravioli Pasta Bake

Cheesy, creamy, quick, and comforting!! This ravioli bake is an excellent choice for the busy weeknight or weekend meal. Not many ingredients, very little prep and cook time, and one fantastic meal to satisfy your Italian food cravings. This dish is so easy to twist up to meet your own tastes. I make it different every time!!! Ravioli pasta bake is a very comforting food for the entire family and very easy to turn into a personal meal for one. Once you make this dish, it’ll rank right up there as one of your favorites.

Ingredients:
Frozen ravioli, use a variety: spinach, cheese, and/or meat
Marinara sauce, use your favorite or make your own
1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese or your favorite Italian blend
Grated Parmesan and Pecorino Romano cheese
Mini Mozzarella balls
2 tablespoons parsely, chopped
Lemon zest from 1 lemon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. You can either cook your frozen ravioli in boiling water until it floats or use the frozen without cooking. Boiling your first will cut down on your bake time. I boil mine first.
3. I like to heat up my marinara sauce ahead of time. It is easier to spread.
4. Spread some marinara sauce on the bottom of your casserole dish or Dutch Oven. Use a good amount.
5. Layer out the ravioli, use half.
6. Sprinkle with some shredded mozzarella or your Italian blended cheese.
7. Spoon on more sauce. Add another layer of ravioli, they can pile up on each other. Sprinkle with more shredded cheese. Top with more sauce. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano (or both). Sprinkle with lemon zest and chopped parsley.
8. Cover the dish with aluminum foil or use a lid if your dish comes with one. Bake for 30 minutes. Take the lid off, turn the oven to Broil and broil until cheese starts to bubble and brown. Do not walk away, keep on eye on this. Sometimes I don’t even cover at all. If you are using cooked ravioli, it is just a heat through and to melt the cheese.
9. Cool slightly before serving.

*NOTE: You can easily add cooked ground beef or pork to this. Even your favorite pepperoni. Add chopped spinach between layers, grated carrots, chopped broccoli, and zucchini. Any combo of these. You don’t have to cook your ravioli, it will cook in the sauce. Just add 10 minutes to your cook time. This dish is so versatile, make it your own.

Cheers, Drew Frederic