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This Baked Ravioli has all the cozy comfort of lasagna, but in an easy casserole doable on even the busiest of nights. Just layer fresh or frozen ravioli with marinara, optional meat, and plenty of cheese, then let the oven do the work for a family-pleasing dinner with minimal effort from you.
Love lasagna? You won't want to miss my recipes for Skillet Lasagna, Lasagna Soup, and No-Boil Lasagna.
Kristen's Keys for Baked Ravioli
While an incredibly easy recipe, I have a few things to keep in mind to make this baked ravioli work for you.
- Choose the right ravioli. Cheese ravioli best mimics the classic lasagna filling. Spinach ravioli also works well -- unless you are cooking for picky eaters, like I am.😉
- Meat is optional, not required. Italian sausage, ground beef, ground turkey, or even sliced pepperoni adds extra heartiness, but this dish is just as satisfying (and a bit more budget-friendly) without it.
- Grate the mozzarella yourself if possible. Pre-shredded mozzarella is convenient and will work in a pinch, but it contains anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting as smoothly as freshly grated cheese.
5-Star Reader REview
OMG I love this! Thank you, Kristen for another fantastic recipe. This is now my go-to lasagna 🙂 -Tom
How to Make the Baked Ravioli
Let's walk through just how easy it is to make this baked ravioli and get this comforting dinner on the table.
Step One: Sauté Meat (Optional)
Brown the Italian sausage or ground meat in a large skillet over medium heat until fully cooked through. Drain off any excess grease as needed, then stir in your favorite jarred or homemade spaghetti sauce for a hearty, yet easy meat sauce perfect for this baked ravioli.
Want to keep it meatless? Simply add your favorite spaghetti sauce or marinara to the casserole right from the jar.
Step Two: Layer
Lightly brush the casserole dish with olive oil and spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom. Add a single layer of ravioli (no need to defrost if frozen), half the remaining sauce, and about 1 cup of shredded mozzarella. Repeat the layers and finish with Parmesan on top.
Step Three: Bake
Tightly cover the baking dish with foil and then bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake for 10-20 minutes, or until cheese has melted and the ravioli has warmed through. The bake time will vary based on if you use fresh or frozen ravioli.
Step Four: Serve
Let sit for about 10 minutes before serving. This keeps the melted cheese intact and prevents burning your mouth.😉 Then serve with a salad (like Copycat Panera Greek Salad or a Homemade Caesar Salad) and garlic bread for a meal everyone will devour.
Recipe Variations
- Pepperoni Swap: Skip the meat and layer sliced pepperoni over the ravioli before adding sauce and cheese.
- Use Leftover Bolognese: This is a great way to stretch leftovers into a completely new meal with deeper, richer flavor.Using frozen ravioli
No need to thaw. Just add about 15 extra minutes to the baking time and cover well so it cooks through evenly.
Make-Ahead Tips
While this ravioli bake is easy enough to whip up nearly any night of the week, it never hurts to have a casserole waiting for you in the fridge (or freezer) and makes dinner that much easier.
- Refrigerate: Assemble and cover tightly. Refrigerate for up to 2 days. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, then bake as directed.
- Freeze: Assemble in a freezer- and oven-safe dish (disposable works well) and cover tightly with two layers of foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, then bake, adding about 10 minutes to the baking time.
More Easy Pasta Dinners
Easy Baked Ravioli
Video
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, + more for greasing pan
- 1 pound Italian Sausage
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 28 ounces prepared marinara or spaghetti sauce
- 24 ounces fresh or frozen cheese ravioli
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400℉ (200℃) lightly grease a deep 9x13 baking dish with olive oil and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 30-60 seconds. Add the sausage and Italian seasoning and cook, breaking the meat into small bite-until fully cooked through. Once browned, turn off the heat, drain off any excess grease, and then stir in the spaghetti sauce and mix until well combined. If you're skipping the meat, simply use the prepared sauce as-is for layering in the casserole.
- Spread a thin layer of the prepared sauce on the bottom of the casserole dish. Arrange half of the ravioli in a single layer over the sauce, overlapping slightly if needed. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the ravioli and spread to cover. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese evenly on top. Repeat the layers with the remaining ravioli, sauce, and mozzarella, then finish by sprinkling Parmesan cheese over the top of the casserole.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes if using fresh ravioli and 20 minutes if using frozen ravioli.
- Let rest for 10-15 minutes before serving with additional parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe was originally shared in 2018 and updated in 2026.
OMG I love this!
Thank you, Kristen for another fantastic recipe. This is now my go-to lasagna 🙂
NOTE: I didn't have ground sausage so I peeled the skin off of some Italian Mild Sausages...perfect. Also, I used homemade pasta tomato sauce. Meal was excellant!
Awesome! Thrilled to hear you enjoyed Tom!
This dinner was easy to prepare and so delicious! My husband and I really enjoyed it. I will be adding this into my dinner rotation!
I LOVE hearing this is going to be a regular Brandy! Thanks for sharing!
Just as good as regular lasagna but so much easier. Thanks for the recipe!
So much easier! I am so glad you to hear you enjoyed the Ravioli Taryn!
Should I thaw the frozen ravioli before placing it in my baking dish? Thanks.
Do you cook the ravioli before placing in oven? What if it’s frozen?
Hi Diane! You can use either fresh or frozen ravioli with delicious results. There is no need to defrost the ravioli, simply layer and bake as directed. It will defrost and cook in the allotted time.
I'm making this tonight, but in a doubled, large pan version because I have a 15 year old with a hollow leg! 😂
It looks great and I can't wait to try it, but I missed the "mix the spinach with the cheese" step so it got sprinkled on instead!
I hope you enjoy Erika! This is one of our favorites! And no worries about sprinkling with spinach 😉
Eating cookies while you're in pain. Not fair! Being a new mom is so special. Thanks for sharing. I can't believe my baby boy is 11! Happy Birthday to Tate! ❤️️
LOL!! That is my husband for you! And our babies grow so fast! So hard to believe!