Are you looking for the ultimate weeknight dinner lifesaver? A hearty, cheesy, and incredibly delicious casserole that you can throw together in about 10 minutes with just five simple, store-bought ingredients? This amazing, from-scratch-tasting Veggie Ravioli Bake is that perfect, magical meal. It’s a brilliant shortcut recipe that delivers a rich, comforting, and family-friendly dinner with practically zero effort.
This isn’t just a recipe; it’s your new secret weapon for the busiest of nights. We’ll show you how to transform a package of prepared ravioli and a jar of your favorite sauce into a stunning, bubbly, and golden-brown casserole that tastes like you spent hours on it. This is the kind of satisfying, one-dish wonder that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Weeknight Lifesaver
What makes this Veggie Ravioli Bake so spectacularly easy and delicious is its brilliant use of high-quality, convenient ingredients. The foundation of the dish is prepared cheese ravioli, which eliminates all the work of making pasta from scratch. The sauce is a clever and delicious combination of a rich and creamy, jarred vodka sauce and dollops of a bright and herby, jarred pesto. Layered with fresh baby spinach and topped with a generous blanket of gooey, melted mozzarella, this is a foolproof casserole that delivers maximum comfort with minimal effort.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 40 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 6 |
The Essential Ingredients for This Easy Casserole
This iconic dish uses a handful of smart, convenient ingredients to create its signature comforting and savory flavor.
- The Ravioli: The cheesy, tender heart of our casserole. Using one or two packages of your favorite prepared cheese ravioli (either the refrigerated or the frozen kind) is the ultimate shortcut that makes this a perfect, fast weeknight meal.
- The “Two-Sauce” Trick: This is the secret to a complex, restaurant-quality flavor with zero extra work!
- Jarred Vodka Sauce: A good quality vodka sauce provides a wonderfully rich, creamy, and tangy tomato base for our casserole.
- Jarred Pesto: A few dollops of a bright, herby, and nutty basil pesto add an incredible, fresh burst of flavor that beautifully complements the creamy vodka sauce. For the best, freshest flavor, look for a pesto in the refrigerated section of your grocery store.
- The Veggie Element: A few large handfuls of fresh baby spinach add a beautiful pop of color and a boost of healthy nutrients. It requires no chopping and wilts down perfectly in the hot sauce.
- The Cheesy Topping: A generous layer of pre-shredded mozzarella cheese is the key to that beautiful, bubbly, and irresistibly gooey, golden-brown top.
Step-by-Step to the Easiest Ravioli Bake Ever
This delicious, one-dish meal is incredibly simple to prepare.
Step 1: Cook the Ravioli and Prepare Your Dish
First, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your two 10-ounce packages of prepared cheese ravioli to the boiling water. Cook the ravioli for slightly less time than the package directs, so that it is still very al dente.
Pro Tip: It is crucial to slightly under-cook your ravioli! It will continue to cook and absorb the delicious sauce in the oven, and this step ensures that your final pasta is perfectly tender, not soft and mushy.
Drain the cooked ravioli and add it to a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Top the ravioli with the 4 cups of fresh baby spinach.
Step 2: Assemble Your Easy Casserole
Step 1: Pour the 24-ounce jar of vodka sauce evenly over the top of the spinach and the pasta.
Step 2: Using a spoon, drop dollops of the 5-ounce jar of pesto all over the top of the sauce.
Pro Tip: Don’t stir the pesto into the sauce! Leaving it in distinct dollops is the secret that creates wonderful, concentrated pockets of bright, herby flavor in the finished casserole.
Step 3: Sprinkle the 2 cups of grated mozzarella evenly over the top of the entire casserole.
Step 3: Bake to Bubbly, Cheesy Perfection
Bake the casserole, uncovered, for about 25 minutes, until the sauce is hot and bubbling and the cheesy topping is a beautiful golden brown around the edges.
Let the baked pasta stand for at least 5 to 10 minutes before serving. This crucial resting period allows the hot, molten sauce and cheese to set up slightly, which is the secret to getting beautiful, clean slices that aren’t a soupy mess.
The Easiest Cheesy Veggie Ravioli Bake (5-Ingredient!)
An extremely simple, 5-ingredient vegetarian ravioli bake that is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. This easy casserole uses store-bought cheese ravioli, which are par-cooked and layered in a baking dish with fresh baby spinach. The ravioli is then covered with jarred vodka sauce, dotted with pesto, and topped with shredded mozzarella cheese before being baked until the sauce is bubbling and the top is browned.
Ingredients
- Two 10-ounce packages prepared cheese ravioli
- 4 cups baby spinach
- One 24-ounce jar vodka sauce
- One 5-ounce jar pesto
- 2 cups grated mozzarella
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the cheese ravioli for slightly less time than stated on the package directions (al dente).
- Drain the cooked ravioli and add them to a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish.
- Top the ravioli with the fresh baby spinach.
- Pour the vodka sauce over the spinach and pasta.
- Dot the pesto in spoonfuls all over the sauce.
- Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake for about 25 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and the edges are browned.
- Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- This recipe is exceptionally quick and easy, relying on several store-bought shortcuts like prepared ravioli, jarred sauce, and pesto.
- Undercooking the ravioli slightly before baking is a key step to prevent it from becoming mushy in the final casserole.
- The fresh spinach is added to the casserole raw and will wilt perfectly as the dish bakes.
How to Serve Your Veggie Ravioli Bake
This hearty casserole is a fantastic, all-in-one meal. To round it out, serve it with a couple of simple classics:
- A Simple Green Salad: A crisp green salad with a bright and zesty lemon or balsamic vinaigrette is the perfect, fresh counterpoint to the rich, cheesy casserole.
- Crusty Garlic Bread: A side of warm, crusty garlic bread is a must-have for sopping up every last drop of that incredible, creamy sauce.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
This Ravioli Bake is the absolute perfect make-ahead meal for a busy week, a potluck, or for stocking your freezer.
- Make-Ahead: You can fully assemble the entire, unbaked casserole up to 24 hours in advance. Simply cover it tightly with foil and store it in the refrigerator. When you are ready to bake, you may need to add 10-15 minutes to the baking time.
- Storage: Store any leftovers, well-covered, in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: This casserole freezes beautifully! You can freeze it either before or after baking. Let it cool completely, then wrap the pan very well in a double layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before baking or reheating.
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Creative Recipe Variations
- Add a Savory Protein: For a heartier, non-vegetarian casserole, you can stir about 1 pound of cooked, crumbled Italian sausage or about 2-3 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken in with the ravioli and the spinach.
- Add More Veggies: This recipe is a fantastic way to use up extra vegetables! You can sauté about 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms, 1 chopped zucchini, or 1 chopped bell pepper and add them as an extra layer in your casserole.
- Use a Different Ravioli or Sauce: The possibilities are endless! Try this easy method with a meat- or a spinach-filled ravioli. You can also swap the vodka sauce for your favorite jarred marinara or a creamy Alfredo sauce.
Enjoy The Ultimate Weeknight Lifesaver!
You’ve just created a truly special dish that is a perfect harmony of hearty, comforting, and delicious flavors, all with a few smart shortcuts. This Veggie Ravioli Bake is a testament to the power of a simple, easy meal to bring the whole family together. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new, much-requested family favorite.
We hope you enjoy every last, warm, and delicious bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves a good, easy, and comforting meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Do I absolutely have to cook the ravioli before I bake it in the casserole?
Yes, it is highly recommended to give your ravioli a quick boil first. Because this casserole has a relatively short baking time, par-cooking the ravioli is the secret that guarantees that the pasta will be perfectly tender and cooked through in the final dish.
Q2: Can I use frozen ravioli for this recipe instead of the refrigerated kind?
Yes, you can use frozen ravioli. There is no need to thaw it first. Simply add the frozen ravioli directly to your pot of boiling water and cook it according to the package directions (again, making sure to slightly under-cook it).
Q3: Can I make this casserole ahead of time for a party?
Yes, this is a perfect make-ahead meal! You can fully assemble the entire unbaked casserole, cover it tightly, and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you are ready to bake, just remove the cover and pop it in the oven (you may need to add 10-15 minutes to the baking time, as it will be starting from cold).
Q4: What is vodka sauce, and is there a good substitute?
Vodka sauce is a classic Italian-American pasta sauce that is made from a smooth tomato base, heavy cream, and a splash of vodka. The vodka helps to balance the sweetness of the tomatoes and adds a sharp, bright flavor. If you cannot find it or prefer not to use it, you can substitute it with an equal amount of your favorite jarred marinara sauce or a creamy tomato and basil sauce.
Q5: Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Of course! Simply use your favorite brand of gluten-free cheese ravioli. All the other components of this recipe are naturally gluten-free.