Recipe of the Month - Succulent No Fuss Baked Ravioli

Ingredients

• 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce

• 1 bag (25 ounces) frozen cheese ravioli

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 1 teaspoon dried or fresh basil

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Optional Garnish:

• Chopped fresh parsley

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C). Coat large baking dish (9×13-inch rectangular dish or large circular dish will work) with a little olive oil.

2. Layer Sauce and Ravioli: Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce at the bottom of the dish. Arrange a layer of frozen ravioli over sauce. Add more sauce on top of ravioli.

3. Add Cheese and Herbs: Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese over sauce. sprin Sprinkle about half of the dried basil, half of the dried oregano, and half of the red pepper flakes.

4. Repeat Layers: Repeat layers with remaining sauce, ravioli, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes.

5. Bake: Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then, remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden. Optionally, turn on oven broiler and broil for 30-90 seconds, watching carefully to avoid burning.

6. Garnish and Serve: Let cool for a few minutes. Optionally, garnish with chopped parsley, then serve. Accompany this deliciousness with a crispy salad, green beans or peas.

This Baked Ravioli is a game-changer for busy weeknights. It's reminiscent of lasagna, but with a lot less effort. Using frozen cheese ravioli cuts down on prep time, and layers of marinara sauce and melted cheeses create a great meal that's easy and comes together in 1 hour.

 RECIPE TIPS:

Refrigerator Storage: Once leftovers have cooled to room temperature, transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days.

Freezer Storage: To freeze, transfer sliced portions of the casserole to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating Instructions: Reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) until warmed through, or microwave or heat in oven, individual portions in 30-second increments. If it seems dry, add a little water or extra marinara sauce before reheating.

To grate fresh mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, I highly recommend the Zylis Cheese Grater sold on my website! It is compact, easy to use and clean.