Italian Sausage Ravioli Casserole

1 month ago 20

Author:Erren HartPublished:2/10/2025Last Updated:1/28/2025

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

With just a handful of ingredients and 30 minutes, you can create a delicious Italian Sausage Ravioli Casserole.

A serving of Italian Sausage Ravioli Casserole is being lifted from a white baking dish with a spoon. This hearty casserole is rich with melted cheese, layers of pasta, tomato sauce, and Italian sausage, with strings of cheese stretching from the dish.

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.

A slice of Italian Sausage Ravioli Casserole topped with a fresh basil leaf sits on a white plate.

What You’ll Need

ravioli, savory Italian sausage, marinara sauce, fresh basil leaves, olive oil, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese, all beautifully labeled against a pristine white background.

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.

A serving of ravioli casserole is being scooped from a white baking dish. Topped with melted cheese and tomato sauce, it's garnished with fresh basil leaves. The golden-brown edges hint at its freshly baked perfection.

JUMP TO RECIPE

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.

Crumbled and browned Italian sausage cooks in a black cast iron skillet, the meat glistening from the heat and oils. The skillet sits on a light surface, highlighting the contrast between the rich, golden-brown sausage and the dark pan.

Stir the marinara sauce into the cooked sausage and simmer for a few minutes to allow the flavors to come together.

A cast iron skillet brimming with rich, chunky red tomato sauce and Italian sausage, featuring visible pieces of tomato and herbs, on a white background.

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.

cheese topped with parmesan, ready to bake.

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.

A baked Italian Sausage Ravioli Casserole in a white rectangular dish, topped with melted cheese and sprinkled with fresh basil. The lasagna layers feature rich tomato sauce with hints of Italian sausage peeking through. A portion of a blue and white checkered cloth is visible at the bottom.

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!

A slice of Italian Sausage Ravioli Casserole with layers of ravioli, Italian sausage, tomato sauce, and melted cheese is garnished with fresh basil on a white plate.

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.

A close-up of a serving of Italian Sausage Ravioli Casserole being lifted from a dish.

Stay Updated

Receive new recipes & dinner ideas straight to your inbox!

Italian Sausage Ravioli Casserole being lifted from the pan with a spoon

Let’s Make Ravioli Casserole

This Italian Sausage Ravioli Casserole combines juicy sausage, tender ravioli, and a blanket of melted cheese for a comforting and satisfying meal. Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekends!

Prep15 minutes

Cook30 minutes

Total45 minutes

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.