Description
Homemade Baked Ravioli and Meat Sauce delivers classic Italian comfort with layers of rich flavors and hearty ingredients. Perfectly melted cheese and robust marinara create a satisfying meal that brings warmth and nostalgia to family dinner tables.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 8 oz (226 g) rigatoni
- 1 cup shredded smoked or sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 ½ cups tomato sauce
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- 3 slices bacon (cooked crisp and crumbled)
- ½ cup diced onion
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 diced tomato (seeds removed)
- ½ cup diced pickles
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) red wine vinegar
- coarse salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Foundation: In a large skillet over medium-low heat, caramelize diced onions and minced garlic with salt and black pepper until onions become translucent and aromatic.
- Meat Preparation: Increase heat to medium, introduce ground beef, breaking it down uniformly while seasoning, ensuring thorough and even cooking.
- Ravioli Preparation: Cook ravioli in a salted boiling water bath, achieving a perfectly tender al dente consistency according to package guidelines.
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) and lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish for baking.
- Flavor Integration: Drain excess beef fat, then combine marinara sauce, meat sauce, balsamic vinegar, pickles, diced tomatoes, cooked ravioli, and shredded cheese in the skillet, creating a cohesive flavor profile.
- Baking Assembly: Transfer the mixed ingredients to the prepared casserole dish, strategically distributing remaining cheese, pickles, and tomatoes across the surface for visual and gustatory appeal.
- Final Baking and Garnish: Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top develops a bubbling, golden-brown crust, then crown with crumbled bacon just before serving to enhance the dish’s overall flavor complexity.
Notes
- Optimize Meat Browning: Ensure ground beef is browned completely without moisture to develop rich, deep flavor and prevent soggy texture.
- Pasta Perfection: Cook ravioli just until al dente to prevent mushiness when baking, as pasta continues to cook in the oven.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Sprinkle cheese in layers for even melting and beautiful golden-brown surface with crispy edges.
- Fat Management: Drain excess beef fat thoroughly to prevent oily, greasy final dish and maintain clean, robust flavors.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking, Sautéing, Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg