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Cheesy Ravioli Bake

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on November 3, 2011

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Cheesy Ravioli Bake

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 cloves garlic, minced1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil ⅓ cup heavy cream Table salt 2 (8-ounce) packages fresh cheese ravioli 1 (6-ounce) bag baby spinach 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Before You Begin

Look for fresh ravioli near the cheese counter at the supermarket. Don’t overcook the ravioli. We found that cooking times varied between 4 to 7 minutes, depending on the brand.

Instructions

  1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot for cooking pasta. Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to center position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Grease shallow 2-quart baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter.
  2. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant but not brown, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, increase heat to high, and cook until thickened and almost dry, about 10 minutes. Stir in basil and cream and simmer until sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Season with salt.
  3. Add 1 tablespoon salt and ravioli to boiling water and cook until al dente. Add spinach to pot with pasta and stir until wilted, about 30 seconds. Drain pasta and spinach, return to pot, and stir in tomato sauce. Transfer mixture to baking dish, sprinkle with cheese, and bake until top is golden, about 10 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before serving.
Cheesy Ravioli Bake

Cheesy Ravioli Bake

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil
⅓ cup heavy cream
Table salt
2 (8-ounce) packages fresh cheese ravioli
1 (6-ounce) bag baby spinach
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil
⅓ cup heavy cream
Table salt
2 (8-ounce) packages fresh cheese ravioli
1 (6-ounce) bag baby spinach
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil
⅓ cup heavy cream
Table salt
2 (8-ounce) packages fresh cheese ravioli
1 (6-ounce) bag baby spinach
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Why This Recipe Works

When developing our Cheesy Ravioli Bake recipe, we wanted an easy, homemade alternative to store-bought ravioli and sauce. Cooking the spinach at the same time as the ravioli saved both time and dishes. We added the spinach to the water once the ravioli was cooked through; the spinach took just a few seconds to soften. A quick, creamy, basil-flavored tomato sauce was an easy, delicious way to top the ravioli. We baked the casserole in a hot oven to melt the cheese without drying out the ravioli.

Before You Begin

Look for fresh ravioli near the cheese counter at the supermarket. Don’t overcook the ravioli. We found that cooking times varied between 4 to 7 minutes, depending on the brand.

Instructions

  1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot for cooking pasta. Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to center position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Grease shallow 2-quart baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter.
  2. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant but not brown, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, increase heat to high, and cook until thickened and almost dry, about 10 minutes. Stir in basil and cream and simmer until sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Season with salt.
  3. Add 1 tablespoon salt and ravioli to boiling water and cook until al dente. Add spinach to pot with pasta and stir until wilted, about 30 seconds. Drain pasta and spinach, return to pot, and stir in tomato sauce. Transfer mixture to baking dish, sprinkle with cheese, and bake until top is golden, about 10 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before serving.

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