Cheese Tortellini and Meat Sauce

After a long day of work, the last thing I want to do is to cook something complicated or that takes a long time or has a thousand ingredients. My brain is sizzled by the end of the day, and any effort and energy I have left I'd rather spend chatting up the family or finishing off my never-ending to-do list.

This recipe is just the thing.

Sometimes I'll go the extra mile and throw together a quick homemade meat sauce, and other times I'll just reach for my trusty jar of Rao's Marinara and call it a day.

Either way, you're going to have an amazing meal if you whip this up for your family!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• So fast: It takes less than 30 minutes to get this on the table from start to finish. #winning
• Customizable: Do you like some veggies in your sauce? Toss in some mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, extra garlic, or whatever you feel like tossing it. Primavera it up.
• Great for meal prep: Got leftovers? This reheats really well and could easily be taken to work or school for lunch.

Make with Grilled Garlic Bread!

Recipe Shopping List

Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here's the list of items you'll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Cheese Tortellini - You can also use ravioli in this recipe, too, or any pasta you like. I like the fresh tortellini rather than frozen, but frozen works in a pinch.
• Ground Beef - Ground pork also works well. So does Italian sausage, or a mix of any of these. I suppose you could also use ground turkey or chicken, but that's not my jam.
• Seasonings - Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and some Italian seasoning works well here!
• Marinara Sauce - Whip up a batch of homemade marinara, or pick up a jar of Rao's.
• Parmesan - For garnish. You can use the grated parmesan in the green can or the fresh fancy shredded Reggiano. Follow your heart.

Try with Garlic Bread Sticks!

How To Make This Recipe

This is just the overview so you can see what you're actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you'll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

1. Boil Water - Put a pot of well-salted water on the stove to boil over high heat.
2. Cook Meat - While the water is coming to a boil, brown the ground beef and add the seasonings. Drain off any excess fat from your meat. We typically use 80/20 ground beef, so definitely have some fat to scoop out. If you use 93/7 you might not have any. If your ground beef is extra lean, you'll want to add in some olive oil. Fat = flavor.
3. Add Sauce - Add your marinara sauce, or your San Marzano tomatoes if you're making it from scratch. Let it come to a low simmer.
4. Cook Pasta - Cook the cheese tortellini according to package directions. Most fresh tortellini only take about 2-3 minutes to cook, so keep an eye on them and don't overcook!
5. Enjoy - Plate your pasta, top with sauce, add your cheese, and dig in!

Have a Caesar Salad!

Recipe FAQ

Try my Chicken Alfredo Bake!

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