Oven-Baked Ravioli

I found this recipe in a magazine about a year ago and set it aside.  What a mistake. It is delicious!  It's a quick dinner to make.  I made a small adjustment after the first time making it and I increased the amount of sauce and meat to use.  So the following will be how I make it.

Baked Ravioli:

1.5 lbs. ground meat

4 1/2 cups jarred marinara sauce

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped, plus more for garnish

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

1 pkg (20 oz) refrigerated cheese ravioli

1 pkg (9 oz) refrigerated cheese ravioli

1 bag (8 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Increase oven temperature to broil; broil ravioli for about 5 minutes.

Substitutions: use ground turkey instead of beef to make healthier

*side note* if you are following my meal plan you will end up with about a cup of marinara left in the jar if you bought 2 24oz jars.  We will be making homemade mozzarella sticks to pair with the sauce

While the hamburger is browning in a pot, chop both the basil and the parsley.

After the hamburger is cooked add 1 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce and half of the parsley and half of the basil.

 

 

When the water for the ravioli comes to a boil cook for about 5 minutes.  This is the great thing about refrigerated pasta, it has a quicker cooking time.

 After ravioli is drained and returned to it's pot add in 3 cups marinara and the remaining basil and parsley and mix well.

 

Coat a 2-quart oven safe baking dish with nonstick spray.  Add half of the ravioli.

  

Top with meat sauce and 3/4 cups of the shredded mozzarella.

 

Add the remaining ravioli to the dish and top with remaining 1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella and the Parmesan.

 

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes and then increase the temperature to broil and broil for about 5 minutes.  Since I increased the amount of sauce it may take a little longer.  It's done when the top gets brown and it's bubbly around the edges.

 I garnished it with a little chopped fresh basil and paired it with some warm, buttered French bread and a salad I threw together made up of kale, spinach, romaine, blue cheese, pomegranate seeds, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Simply Delicious