Description
Savory meat lovers pizza tortellini combines Italian comfort with bold flavor profiles. Hearty cheese-filled pasta embraces zesty pepperoni, crispy bacon, and spicy sausage, creating a mouthwatering fusion you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Base:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 0.5 lb pepperoni, sliced
- 0.25 lb Italian sausage, crumbled
Cheese and Dairy:
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 0.5 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 0.25 cup ricotta cheese
Pizza and Pasta Components:
- 1 package cheese tortellini
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 0.5 tsp garlic powder
- 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F, preparing a baking dish with a light coating of olive oil to prevent sticking.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef, Italian sausage, and pepperoni over medium-high heat, breaking the meats into small crumbles until fully cooked and no pink remains.
- Drain excess fat from the meat mixture, then return to the skillet and season with garlic powder, dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.
- Cook the cheese tortellini in boiling salted water according to package instructions until just al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Layer the cooked tortellini in the prepared baking dish, evenly spreading the seasoned meat mixture over the pasta.
- Pour pizza sauce generously across the meat and tortellini, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the entire surface, followed by a liberal dusting of parmesan cheese.
- Dollop ricotta cheese in small clusters across the top of the dish for added creaminess.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and slightly golden around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the dish to set before serving.
Notes
- Customize meat selection by swapping ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter protein option.
- Reduce sodium content by using low-sodium pizza sauce and less salt when seasoning the meat mixture.
- Create a vegetarian version by replacing meat with plant-based sausage crumbles and adding roasted vegetables like bell peppers and mushrooms.
- Enhance flavor complexity by incorporating fresh herbs like chopped basil or parsley as a final garnish before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 1300 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg