Make Ahead Spinach and Tomato Tortellini Bake Recipe (2024)

Consider whipping up this make-ahead spinach and tomato tortellini bake recipe. A creamy and cheesy tortellini bake that is a simple yet delicious dinner for the whole family. If you have some fresh or frozen tortellini on hand, create this casserole.

Make Ahead Spinach and Tomato Tortellini Bake Recipe (1)

If you love tortellini, here are a few more recipes to try. Tuscan tortellini soup, baked tortellini with red sauce, or bacon alfredo tortellini.

Make Ahead Spinach and Tomato Tortellini Bake

This is a make-ahead dish that you can prep in the morning and store in the fridge until you are ready to bake. Then once you are home just toss right into the oven and heat it up for a super simple dinner. Or you can freeze for a meal later.

If you enjoy meal prepping on Sunday so you have meals for the week to reheat and enjoy. This is also a great dinner to meal prep and gift to loved ones or neighbors.

Great for expecting parents, healing from surgery, or a sick neighbor.

How to Make This Tortellini Bake

Sauce | In a skillet you will add your butter and let it melt. Now add in your garlic, flour, onion powder and cook for a minute. Make sure to whisk continuously or it will burn. Now slowly stir in the milk and cream, working out any lumps.

Decrease the heat to low, and let it simmer and it will begin to thicken.

Make Ahead Spinach and Tomato Tortellini Bake Recipe (2)Stir In | Now you will add in the tomatoes, basil, oregano, spinach, and parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Once the spinach and cheese have melted you will remove them from the heat.

Tortellini | Now you will stir in the cooked tortellini. Mix until fully combined and stir into the casserole dish. Top with parmesan cheese.

Make Ahead Spinach and Tomato Tortellini Bake Recipe (3)Bake | Bake the dish until the cheese on top is melted. Remove and serve warm.

What Is The Best Tortellini To Use

Honestly, you can use refrigerated tortellini, dry, or even homemade tortellini. You need to make sure though you cook the tortellini as directed on the package. I personally prefer refrigerated tortellini. But, use whatever you prefer.

Variations To Creamy Tortellini

  • You could skip the homemade sauce and do an alfredo.
  • Use a different cheese to sprinkle on top to bake, mozzarella could be a delicious pairing.
  • Add in some diced or shredded cooked chicken.
  • You can use regular pasta instead of tortellini if you would like.

Want More Easy Pasta Recipes

  • Italian Chicken Pasta
  • Spinach Ricotta Pasta
  • Avocado Pasta Salad
  • Cajun Chicken Pasta

Make Ahead Spinach and Tomato Tortellini Bake Recipe (4)What Do You Serve With This Pasta Dish

I like to serve with a caesar salad, breadstick, and call it good. Feel free to do a vegetable side dish or any other side you might want next to this pasta.

Make Ahead Spinach and Tomato Tortellini Bake Recipe (5)

Make Ahead Spinach and Tomato Tortellini Bake Recipe

Yield: 8-10 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Make Ahead Spinach and Tomato Tortellini Bakeis a creamy and cheese tortellini that will win over the whole family. Cheese filled tortellini, homemade creamy sauce, and baked perfectly.

Ingredients

  • 1 19 oz. package of refrigerated three cheese tortellini, cooked according to package instructions
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tablespoons flour1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 ¼ cups milk (2% or whole)
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 14 oz can petite diced tomatoes (undrained)
  • 1 ½ cups fresh spinach, packed
  • 3 tablespoons fresh basil
  • 2 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add garlic, flour, and onion powder and cook for one minute, stirring constantly with a whisk. Continue whisking, and slowly pour in milk and cream, then whisk until smooth.
  3. Continue stirring constantly (and decrease the heat to medium low so the milk doesn’t scald, if needed) until the mixture begins to barely simmer and thicken.
  4. Then add tomatoes, oregano and basil, spinach, and parmesan cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook several minutes longer until sauce has thickened, even more, the spinach has wilted, and the cheese has melted.
  5. Remove from heat and add cooked tortellini into sauce.
  6. Mix together and spoon into a large casserole dish.
  7. Add ½ cup parmesan cheese to the top and bake for 8-10 minutes until the cheese on top has melted. Serve warm.

Notes

***To make ahead, cook as instructed, but instead of baking
at the end, freeze instead. Then, bake before eating for 30-45 minutes or until
completely warm all the way through and cheese on top is melted.

Make Ahead Spinach and Tomato Tortellini Bake Recipe (6)

Let me know how you enjoy this tortellini bake recipe.

Make Ahead Spinach and Tomato Tortellini Bake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you make tortellini ahead of time? ›

Make-Ahead, Storage, Freezing, and Reheating

Make-Ahead: This baked tortellini is the perfect make ahead meal! Throw it together when you have time, cover it tightly and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days before baking. Let it sit out on the counter for about an hour to come to room temp before baking.

Can you reheat Spinach and ricotta tortelloni? ›

Leftovers. In the fridge You can keep this recipe in the fridge in a sealed container for 3 days. Can you reheat Spinach and Ricotta Pasta? Reheat fully in the microwave or on the hob with a dash of water before serving.

Can you Precook tortellini? ›

You can prepare Barilla® Collezione filled tortellini up to 24 hours in advance. To do so, follow these instructions: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the tortellini and cook for one minute less than the time recommended in the package instructions.

How long does spinach and ricotta tortellini last? ›

Once opened use within 3 days and do not exceed the use by date. Freeze as soon as possible after purchase and always within the use by date. Once frozen use within 3 months.

Can you reheat pre cooked tortellini? ›

To reheat cooked tortellini, sprinkle a few drops of water over the pasta or place a damp paper towel on top. Cook in the microwave (knob lifted) and reheat for 1-2 minutes per cup of pasta, or until heated through.

What's the difference between tortellini and tortelloni? ›

Tortelloni is pasta in a similar shape, but larger, typically 5 g, vs. 2 g for tortellini. While tortellini has a meat-based filling, tortelloni is filled with ricotta and sometimes with parsley or spinach.

Is spinach and ricotta tortellini healthy? ›

With its smooth texture and rich taste, you won't believe it's a healthy choice. The low-fat ricotta cheese replaces the high-fat cream found in similar creamy white pasta dishes, while the spinach and basil bring color, fiber, and freshness to the bowl.

Can you make pasta ahead of time for a party? ›

You can prepare pasta up to 24 hours in advance. To do so, follow these instructions: Cook it for half the time recommended in the package instructions. Then, drain the pasta and spread it out on a cooking sheet and allow it to cool.

Should you cover tortellini when cooking? ›

Up next: how long to bake tortellini. Cover tightly with foil and bake until bubbling, about 35 minutes. Remove the foil and turn on the broiler. Broil until the cheese is lightly browned.

Can you reheat spinach and ricotta tortellini? ›

Is Spinach and Ricotta Tortellini suitable for leftovers? Spinach and Ricotta Tortellini can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw completely in the fridge overnight before use. Reheat in the microwave.

Can you cook tortellini in advance? ›

The tortellinis can be made and cooked in advance – just refresh in iced water after cooking and store on a tray with a little olive oil. To reheat, drop back into boiling water for a couple of minutes and serve.

Can you reheat spinach and ricotta? ›

The spinach can be cooked a day ahead, then covered and refrigerated until needed. Stir in the ricotta and Parmesan and continue with the recipe. Leftovers should be covered and refrigerated within 2 hours of making. Eat within 3 days, reheating in a microwave until piping hot all of the way through.

How long is uncooked tortellini good for in the fridge? ›

Tortellini or other stuffed pasta: 3–5 days.

Is it possible to cook pasta ahead and refrigerate? ›

Martinez say you should take one or two tablespoons of olive oil and drizzle it onto your noodles, tossing them to make sure they are all coated. Once your noodles cool for about 15 minutes, dump them in a large Ziploc bag and put the sealed bag in the refrigerator.

Can you make fresh pasta ahead of time? ›

Fresh pasta can be dried, refrigerated or frozen for future use. The storage method you choose depends on how long you want to keep your pasta.

Can you refrigerate cooked tortellini? ›

How to Store Cooked Pasta in the Refrigerator. Allow cooked pasta to cool slightly. It can then be stored in airtight containers (from $5, The Container Store) in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

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