With just a handful of ingredients and 30 minutes, you can create a delicious Italian Sausage Ravioli Casserole.
I’ve always loved classic Italian comfort food like lasagna, but I wanted an easier way to enjoy all those hearty, comforting flavors without the time-consuming prep. That’s how my Italian Sausage Ravioli Casserole came to be! This dish takes all the essential elements of lasagna—rich Italian sausage, gooey cheese, and delicious pasta—but swaps out the layers for tender, ready-to-go ravioli. The result? A meal that feels indulgent yet simple, perfect for busy weeknights. Plus, it’s great to make ahead or freeze for later!
Delicious By Design
- Italian Sausage and Marinara Sauce: The pairing of savory, spiced Italian sausage with rich and tangy marinara sauce creates a robust and hearty flavor base, making every bite deeply satisfying.
- Fresh Basil: Adding fresh basil to this casserole takes it to the next level! Its fragrant aroma and bright, slightly sweet flavor perfectly balance the richness of the other ingredients.
- Cheese Combination: The mixture of mozzarella and Parmesan creates a creamy, melty mozzarella meets crispy, golden Parmesan for the perfect topping.
What You’ll Need
- Ravioli: Fresh ravioli from the grocery store’s refrigerated section is ideal (any filling you like best), but frozen ravioli works just as well. If using frozen, I recommend thawing and draining them beforehand to prevent excess water from affecting the casserole.
- Italian sausage – Look for sausage with fennel for a classic flavor.
- Marinara sauce – Use your favorite store-bought sauce or Homemade Marinara Sauce if you have the time.
- Shredded mozzarella – You can use whole-milk mozzarella for creamier results.
- Shredded Parmesan – Freshly grated is always best!
Fresh basil – Adds a fresh, herbaceous note. You can substitute dried basil in a pinch.
How To Make
You can find the full, printable recipe at the bottom of this post (click the button above), but you can read a summary with step-by-step instructions and photos for each step below.
Preheat and Prepare: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (180°C). Heat olive oil in a frying pan, then brown your sausage, breaking it apart as it cooks. Removing any excess fat is important to keep the casserole from becoming too greasy.
Stir the marinara sauce into the cooked sausage and simmer for a few minutes to allow the flavors to come together.
Create your layers: Spread a portion of this sausage sauce mixture over the bottom of a greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Layer half of your ravioli over the sauce, then top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Don’t forget to tuck in a few basil leaves between the layers.
Repeat the Layers: Add another layer of sausage sauce and ravioli, followed by more cheese and basil. This layering technique ensures every bite is flavorful.
Top and Bake: Finish with the remaining sausage mixture and a final layer of cheese. Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes until the sauce bubbles and the cheese is golden.
Let the casserole rest for a bit before digging in—it gives all those yummy flavors time to settle. Then slice it up and serve. It’s as simple as that!
Make It Your Own
This recipe is super versatile! You can easily swap out ingredients to match your taste. For a veggie twist, add sautéed spinach or mushrooms to the layers. Prefer a spicier kick? Use hot Italian sausage or add red pepper flakes to the marinara sauce. You can even switch out the ravioli for tortellini or use a different cheese like fontina for a different texture.
Recipe Tips
- Avoid excess moisture: Drain the sausage well to prevent the casserole from getting watery.
- Layering tip: Press the ravioli down lightly into the sauce layers to ensure everything bakes evenly.
- Cheese choice: Use whole-milk mozzarella for the best melt and stretch.
- Resting time: Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving to help the layers set.
- Make sure to use enough sauce when cooking the ravioli casserole. If the sauce is too thick, consider adding a bit of water to help the ravioli cook properly.
Storage & Freezing Instructions ❄
This Ravioli Casserole keeps well in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
To freeze: Assemble the casserole, but don’t bake it. Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then label it with the date. When ready to eat, thaw it overnight in the fridge and bake it as instructed.
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Let’s Make Ravioli Casserole
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage meat casings removed, if necessary
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 16 ounces fresh ravioli cheese or meat-filled, as preferred
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese divided
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage meat, breaking up any lumps with a wooden spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through. If necessary, drain excess fat (about 2 tablespoons is fine).
- Pour in the marinara sauce, stirring to combine, and allow to simmer until heated through. Remove from heat.
- Spread one-third of the sausage and marinara mixture evenly across the base of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Layer half of the ravioli over the sauce, followed by half of the mozzarella and a light sprinkling of Parmesan. Add a few basil leaves between the ravioli for added flavor.
- Repeat the layers: Spread another one-third of the sausage mixture, add the remaining ravioli, and sprinkle half of the remaining Parmesan cheese and some basil leaves.
- Top with the last one-third of the sauce mixture, then finish with the remaining mozzarella and a generous sprinkling of the Parmesan cheese.
- Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is golden and melted.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle the chopped basil over the top, and serve.
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