Tortellini al Forno with Spinach

Name: Baked Tortellini Casserole
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1/2 lb dry tortellini filled with ham & cheese; 1 large handful fresh spinach; 1⅓ cups shredded cheese; 1 tsp chili flakes; 1 cups cream (full fat, cooking cream or half n half)

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This cheap & cheesy weeknight favorite is done in 25 minutes with just 5 ingredients. Cheesy and packed with flavor this dish heats up really well and is a great option for your lunchbox.

A big part of my college degree could be probably attributed to this specific recipe. I made it almost every week back then, when money was tight and all food needed to be lunchbox appropriate.

But, knowing myself, it also had to be really tasty. This recipe ticks all the boxes.

Why you will love this recipe

It's quick and on the table in 25 minutes
It's easy - just boil tortellini halfway, layer, and bake
It's cheap - one serving comes out at €1-2
It's sooo tasty you will definitely be happy to have leftovers
It's perfect for your lunchbox and heats up super well

What you need to make it

ingredients needed to make tortellini al forno

Ingredient notes & substitutions

Tortellini - I prefer ham & cheese, but it's great with other types as well - like plain cheese tortellini for a vegetarian version
Dried tortellini is my go-to, and the best option for this recipe
Shredded cheese - any type of shredded cheese that melts well
Chili flakes - I use a pretty spicy kind, and it comes out just a bit spicy
Cream - I prefer heavy cream, but half-and-half works almost as well

How to make it

Start by preheating your oven to 200 degrees C/400 degrees F and cooking your tortellini just half the time stated on the package - usually around 5-6 minutes. Then drain them, and you're ready to start!

collage showing how to layer ingredients for tortellini al forno

Butter an oven safe dish that's either round and about 20 cm (8 inches) across, or rectangular at about 25 x 18 cm (10 x 7 inches). The exact size is not important, just that everything fits and is not too spread out.
Place half of the cooked tortellini in the bottom of the dish
Add half the spinach
Spread out half the shredded cheese over the spinach

collage showing how to make tortellini al forno and what it looks like before and after cooking

Add the remaining tortellini
Follow with the rest of the spinach, and the chili flakes
Top with the rest of the shredded cheese, and pour over the cream - try to spread it out all over the dish
Bake in the middle of the oven for 15 minutes until cheese is melted and golden. Serve as it is, or with a side salad.

a spoonful of tortellini and spinach being lifted out of a dish full

Tips & tricks

Make it vegetarian by using vegetarian tortellini - for example cheese filled
Mix it up by trying different types of tortellini - filled with cheese, mushroom, pesto, or something else
Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days
Freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months

Recipe FAQ

What is tortellini al forno?

Tortellini al forno in Italian literally means "tortellini to the oven" or simply oven baked tortellini.

Can I use frozen tortellini instead?

You can definitely use frozen tortellini instead, just be careful not to overcook it as it generally cooks quicker than dried. If the cook time is just around 5 minutes, don't boil it first - just thaw it and then add it to the dish with the rest of the ingredients.

Can I use fresh tortellini instead?

Fresh tortellini will overcook easily, so I don't recommend it. If you do decide to use it - don't cook it first, just add it to the dish straight away with the rest of the ingredients - and know that they will probably come out a bit overcooked.

side view of a dish full of tortellini al forno

More weeknight heroes

Need a few more weeknight heroes? Then these are for you:

Creamy Chicken Pasta with Feta Cheese & Basil
Buffalo Chicken Pasta (15 minutes)
Smoked Salmon Pasta with Spinach (15 minutes)
Creme Fraiche Carbonara with Bacon (15 minutes)
Oven-Baked Salmon with Lemon Pepper (20 minutes)
Potato Stir-fry with Veggies & Halloumi (25 minutes)
Chicken Teriyaki Stir-fry (25 minutes)
Creamy Seafood Pasta Bake (45 minutes, mostly hands-off)
Dump-And-Bake Chicken Spinach Pasta (60 minutes, mostly hands-off)

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...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.

Baked Tortellini Casserole

5 from 18 votes

Print Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Servings:

Calories: 547kcal

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 15 mins

Total time: 25 minutes

Author: Emmeline Kemperyd

Ingredients

▢ ½ lb dry tortellini filled with ham & cheese
▢ 1 large handful fresh spinach
▢ 1⅓ cups shredded cheese
▢ 1 teaspoon chili flakes
▢ 1 cups cream full fat, cooking cream or half n half

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and cook the tortellini half as long as stated on the package.
Butter an oven safe dish that's either round and about 20 cm (8 inches) across or rectangular and about 25 x 18 cm (10 x 7 inches). The exact size is not important!
Place half of the tortellini in the bottom of the dish, followed by half the spinach and half the cheese. Then add the rest of the tortellini, the rest of the spinach, chili flakes, and the rest of thecheese. Pour over the cream, and try to spread it out as much as possible.
Bake in the middle of the oven for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly golden and the casserole seems mostly set. Serve as it is or with a salad.

Equipment needed for this recipe

Video