This Marry Me Ravioli Casserole takes everything you love about a creamy baked pasta dinner and makes it ridiculously easy. Cheesy ravioli, Italian sausage, fresh spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes are layered with creamy Alfredo sauce and mozzarella, then baked until hot and bubbly. It’s hearty, flavorful, and comes together with just a few minutes of prep, making it an easy dinner for busy weeknights or a meal you’ll be excited to serve to guests.
Here it is, y’all! This recipe is an absolute must and you have got to try this! The combination of Italian sausage, cheesy ravioli and tangy sun-dried tomatoes soaking up every bit of Alfredo sauce and melty mozzarella cheese is just perfection. One bite and you’ll understand exactly why it’s called “Marry Me”- it’s a dinner that will keep everyone coming back for seconds!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- One dish meal – Bake altogether in one dish, making cleanup a snap!
- Easy – With just a handful of simple ingredients, this casserole comes together fast and bakes into a complete family meal.
- Perfect for entertaining – This casserole looks so impressive straight from the oven with its golden, bubbly cheese.
- Amazing leftovers! – The flavors continue to develop overnight, making leftovers just as delicious for lunch or repeat dinner.
Recipe Notes
This Marry Me Ravioli Casserole recipe is as simple as promised! Just a handful of simple ingredients for a family friendly dinner idea.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make this easy ravioli casserole recipe to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Frozen cheese ravioli – You can use almost any flavor ravioli with good results. Tortellini is another substitute filled pasta you can use.
- Alfredo sauce – I use one 24 oz jar for this dish, however if you like extra sauce you may want to use an additional 1-2 cups
- Italian sausage – Italian sausage will be the most flavorful option, however you could also use turkey sausage, chicken sausage or ground beef
- Fresh spinach
- Sun-dried tomatoes – You’ll want to buy sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil and julienned to save you on having to chop the tomatoes. 4 oz is nearly 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes.
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Vary your ravioli– Swap the cheese ravioli for spinach and cheese ravioli, spinach ravioli or mushroom ravioli to edit the flavor profile.
- Veggie Ravioli Casserole– Add some sautéed veggies for added nutrition and texture. Mushrooms, roasted red pepper, zucchini or onion would all be delicious options that complement the flavors well.
- Extra Cheesy Casserole– If you love cheesy casseroles, add extra mozzarella between the layers and then more on top. The result will be the irresistible cheesy pull everyone loves!
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Marry Me Baked Ravioli Casserole.
Spread about 1/2 cup Alfredo sauce over the bottom of the casserole dish. Pour half of the ravioli in an even layer over the sauce.
On top of the ravioli, layer fresh spinach and sun-dried tomatoes.
Add cooked Italian sausage and half of the mozzarella cheese.
Top with the remaining ravioli.
Pour the remaining sauce over the ravioli and top with remaining mozzarella.
Cover with foil and bake for 50 minutes at 375°. Remove foil and return to the oven for 15-20 minutes.
Recipe Tips
- Choose your dish wisely – Use a large baking dish. You can use as small as a 2 quart dish, but it will be filled to the top. A 9×13″ baking dish works well but won’t be filled as high, and will cook more quickly.
- Extra saucy – If you prefer your casserole to be extra saucy, you may want to use 1-2 extra cups of Alfredo sauce, adding more on the bottom, a layer in the middle, and more on the top!
- Drain the tomatoes – Be sure to drain the oil off the tomatoes before you add them to the casserole! This will ensure the dish doesn’t become overly oily.
- Cover, then uncover – The majority of the cook time the casserole should be covered. This will keep the ravioli moist and will ensure it is cooked through. You’ll finish the cook time by uncovering for 15-20 minutes. This will allow the cheese to brown a bit.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Refrigerated ravioli – You can absolutely use refrigerated ravioli instead of frozen. If you do this, it will take 15-20 minutes less baking time.
- Buy pre-washed spinach – There’s no need to wash or chop it- just toss it straight into the casserole!
- Buy pre-shredded mozzarella– A bag of pre-shredded mozzarella saves prep time and melts beautifully over the casserole.
- Assemble in advance – Put the casserole together the day before, cover and refrigerate. The next day, simply bake and serve!
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this Ravioli Baked Casserole recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.
To freeze before cooking
- Assemble the casserole as directed in a freezer-safe baking dish and cover.
- Place in freezer for up to 3 months.
- When you’re ready to enjoy, you can either place casserole dish directly in the oven or allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight. If you place it directly in the oven, it will need to cook longer to ensure it is warmed through.
How to Freeze Marry Me Ravioli After Cooking
- Allow the casserole to cool completely.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and freeze.
- When you’re ready to enjoy, place in oven until warmed through.
What to Serve with Marry Me Ravioli Casserole
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of Italian-inspired meals, it will pair well with many of your favorite classic side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- Italian House Salad– This salad is delicious with both the homemade Italian dressing in the recipe or with this Healthy Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette!
- Arugula Pear Salad
- BEST Ever Garlic Bread
- Oven Roasted Green Beans
Marry Me Ravioli Casserole Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Ravioli Skillet Bake– Reheat in a skillet for a crispy bottom and top with extra mozzarella cheese.
- Stuffed Peppers– Chop leftovers and use as the filling for bell peppers! YUM!
Recipe FAQ’s
Do I need to cook the ravioli before baking?
No. Both refrigerated and frozen ravioli can be added directly to the casserole before baking. They will cook in the creamy Alfredo sauce.
What type of Italian sausage is best?
Both mild and hot Italian sausage are delicious! Mild sausage is family-friendly, while hot will add a little kick!
Can I use frozen spinach instead of fresh?
Fresh is ideal for this recipe. But if you have frozen on hand, it will work. You will want to allow it to thaw first and squeeze as much of the moisture from it as you can to ensure your casserole doesn’t end up watery.
More EASY Pasta Casserole Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy pasta casserole recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Bake
- Million Dollar Ravioli
- Creamy Boursin Baked Orzo
- Loaded Mac & Cheese with Ground Beef
- Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake
Marry Me Ravioli Casserole
Ingredients
- 25 ounces frozen ravioli, see note 1
- 3.5 cups alfredo sauce, see note 2
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 3 cups spinach
- 4 ounces sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, julienned
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375˚F.
- In a medium sized skillet, brown the Italian sausage over medium high heat, breaking up as you cook. Once no longer pink, drain any excess grease and set aside.
- In a large casserole dish (see note 3), spread about ½ cup of alfredo sauce over the bottom of the pan. Pour half of the ravioli over the sauce.
- On top of the ravioli, evenly layer spinach, sausage, sun dried tomatoes (oil drained), and half of the mozzarella. Then top with remaining ravioli. Pour the remaining sauce over the ravioli and top with remaining mozzarella.
- Cover with foil and bake for 50 minutes. Remove foil and return to the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the ravioli casserole is heated through and the edges start to bubble and brown.
- Garnish with chopped parsley (optional) and serve warm. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- I use a bag of frozen cheese ravioli for this. You can use almost any flavor ravioli with good results. You can also use refrigerated ravioli instead of frozen. If you use refrigerated ravioli, it will take 15-20 minutes less baking time.
- 1 use 1 24 ounce jar for this dish. If you like it extra saucy, you may want to use an extra 1-2 cups of sauce, adding more on the bottom, a layer in the middle, and more on the top.
- Use a large baking dish. You can use as small as a 2 quart dish, but it will be filled to the top. A 9×13 inch baking dish works well but won’t be filled as high, and will cook more quickly.
- *Optional* Add parmesan as a garnish
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