DUMP-AND-BAKE RAVIOLI CASSEROLE

I first tried this recipe when I was pregnant with Spencer and I was looking for freezer-friendly meals that I could stash away for the crazy newborn days. It has now become a staple in our house because it’s one of those perfect meals for busy parents. With just 4 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep, my Dump-and-Bake Ravioli Casserole is an easy dinner recipe that the whole family will love!

This recipe was originally published on the blog way back in October of 2013, but I have continued to tweak it over the years and I finally got around to taking some updated photos. So here we go again — giving some new life to the very first dump-and-bake recipe that I ever shared!

I’m not kidding you when I say that this is seriously the easiest way to cook dinner! You just assemble a lasagna-style dish using FROZEN ravioli — you don’t even have to thaw them first!

And with only 4 ingredients necessary for the ravioli casserole, it’s a meal that you can throw together with pantry (or freezer) staples when you don’t have anything else planned on the menu! Great for those hectic nights when you don’t want to make another stop at the grocery store.

HERE’S THE QUICK AND EASY 5-MINUTE PREPARATION FOR A DUMP-AND-BAKE RAVIOLI CASSEROLE:

Start by spreading a very thin layer of marinara sauce in the bottom of a large baking dish (about 9 x 13 inches).

Top the sauce with half of your frozen ravioli. I use a basic cheese ravioli from the freezer section at my local grocery store, but you can substitute with your favorite brand and filling.

Next, top the ravioli with about half of your remaining marinara sauce and sprinkle with half of your mozzarella cheese.

After another layer of ravioli, sauce, mozzarella, and a sprinkling of Parmesan, cover the dish with foil and pop it in the oven for 20 minutes.

You’ll want to remove the foil for the final 20 minutes or so, which allows some of the liquid to bake off and the cheese to get crispy and browned on top. It’s ravioli casserole perfection!

HOW TO ASSEMBLE THE RAVIOLI CASSEROLE FOR THE FREEZER:

You can prep this dinner in advance and keep it stashed in the freezer until you’re ready to bake it! To do so, simply follow the recipe instructions through step 5. Cover tightly with foil and freeze the unbaked casserole for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to serve it, pull it out of the freezer and bake as instructed.  You might need to add a few more minutes to the cooking time, but just keep your eye on it and make sure that it’s heated through before serving.  This is definitely a must-have in every mom’s recipe file!

Dump-and-Bake Ravioli Casserole

This easy Dump-and-Bake Ravioli Casserole is a quick dinner with just 4 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep!

 Course Dinner

 Cuisine Italian

 Keyword freezer meal, ravioli, vegetarian dinner

 Prep Time 5 minutes

 Cook Time 40 minutes

 Total Time 50 minutes

 Servings 6 people

 Calories 398 kcal

 Author Blair

Ingredients

• 24 oz. package frozen cheese ravioli
• 23 oz. (or about 2.5 cups) marinara sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish (or two 8-inch dishes) with cooking spray.
2. Pour a very thin layer of marinara sauce into the prepared baking dish to cover bottom (about 1/2 cup).
3. Arrange half of the frozen ravioli in a single layer over the sauce.
4. Top with half of the remaining marinara sauce and half of the mozzarella cheese.
5. Repeat layers once, starting with ravioli. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
6. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake, uncovered, for 20-25 more minutes or until bubbly and hot in center. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes

Cooking Just for Two? Cut the ingredients in half and prepare the casserole in an 8-inch square pan.

Recipe modified from Tasty Kitchen.

Nutrition Facts

Dump-and-Bake Ravioli Casserole

Amount Per Serving (1 /6 of the casserole)

Calories 398Calories from Fat 149

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 16.5g25%

Saturated Fat 8.2g41%

Monounsaturated Fat 0.4g

Cholesterol 52.6mg18%

Sodium 989.9mg41%

Potassium 4.5mg0%

Total Carbohydrates 40g13%

Dietary Fiber 4g16%

Sugars 7.3g

Protein 22.1g44%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 more recipes @ www.theseasonedmom.com