Million Dollar Baked Ravioli

Brown the Beef and Onions:

Cook ground beef and diced onions in a large skillet over medium high heat until the beef is browned and fully cooked breaking up the beef into small bits and letting the onions soften this step builds deep flavor for the sauce

Season and Simmer the Sauce:

Add onion powder garlic powder and chicken bouillon powder into the beef and stir until everything is well coated sprinkle in Italian seasoning for the herbal touch pour in the pasta sauce and let it gently simmer for a few minutes to meld all the flavors together then set it aside

Make the Parmesan Cream Sauce:

In a separate skillet over low heat melt the butter then add heavy whipping cream whisking constantly let the mixture come just to a gentle simmer before adding Parmesan cheese by handfuls stir slowly and keep whisking until the sauce turns silky smooth season with salt and black pepper then let the sauce sit for a few minutes so it thickens slightly

Layer and Assemble:

Spread a layer of the meat sauce in a 7 by 11 inch baking dish set the ravioli on top without overlapping if possible generously spoon over some Parmesan cream sauce repeat the process adding another layer of ravioli and sauces ending with a final layer of meat sauce

Add Cheese and Bake:

Sprinkle mozzarella cheese all over the top of the assembled casserole cover the dish with foil and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for half an hour remove the foil and continue baking for about ten minutes more then broil for just a couple minutes to get the cheese beautifully golden and bubbling

My favorite moment with this dish is pulling it bubbling from the oven while my family gathers around the table everyone eagerly waiting to dive in I have found freshly shredded mozzarella always melts creamier and gives the absolute best cheesy crust

Storage Tips

This ravioli casserole keeps well in the refrigerator for up to four days Cover tightly and reheat portions in the oven or microwave For freezing let the dish cool completely then wrap in foil and freeze for up to one month

Ingredient Substitutions

Feel free to swap in spinach or beef filled ravioli for the cheese version If you want a lighter sauce use half and half instead of heavy cream Mixed Italian cheeses can replace mozzarella for a more complex topping

Serving Suggestions

Dish up generous spoonfuls with a crisp Caesar salad and garlic bread For a cozy weekend dinner I like to add roasted vegetables on the side or a simple green salad If serving for a party just garnish the top with extra fresh basil or parsley

Recipe Roots

Baked pasta casseroles like this were inspired by the classic Italian American tradition of layering pasta and sauce for a crowd While Million Dollar Ravioli is not an old world Italian recipe it captures the spirit of comforting homey food cooked with love