• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
always use butter
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer Resources
  • Subscribe!
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer Resources
  • Subscribe!
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Air Fryer Resources
    • Subscribe!
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Pasta

    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole with Spinach

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on July 26, 2022, updated January 29, 2025 - 75 Comments

    Total time: 25 minutes minutes
    Prep time: 10 minutes minutes
    4.93 from 42 votes
    Jump to Recipe

    This cheap & cheesy Tortellini Casserole is a weeknight favorite done in 25 minutes with just 5 ingredients but lots of flavor. Just boil the tortellini halfway, then dump, bake and serve! It also heats up really well for delicious leftovers!

    a spoonful of tortellini and spinach being lifted out of a dish full
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd / alwaysusebutter.com.

    This Dish Got Me Through College

    A big part of my college degree could be attributed to this one dish. I made it almost every week back then, when money was tight, an easy dinner recipe was pure gold, and all food needed to be lunchbox-appropriate.

    Save This Recipe Form

    Want to save this recipe?

    Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get more great recipes from us each week!

    And, knowing myself, it also had to be really tasty. This recipe sure ticks all the boxes, and there's good reason why I still make it at least once a month.

    Here are the top reasons why I love it:

    • It's quick - done in 25 minutes or less
    • It's easy - just boil tortellini halfway, layer, and bake
    • It's cheap - one serving comes out at $1-2
    • It's so tasty, you'll want to make it all the time!

    If you want to try another variation of this, I recommend my Gorgonzola Tortellini Casserole.

    "Anything this easy could not be good. I was so wrong. My whole family flipped for this recipe! Loved the spicy creamy cheesy goodness! I was so shocked how easy and good it was. This is a keeper." - Joy

    Just 5 Ingredients + a Bit of Butter (Or Oil)

    ingredients needed to make tortellini al forno

    A Note on Tortellini

    I mainly use dried tortellini, and it's what I used for this recipe as well. You can also make this recipe with fresh or frozen tortellini.

    If using dried tortellini, I recommend boiling it first. You can make this without boiling it first, but you will need to add more liquid, and it will take longer to cook.

    If using fresh tortellini, don't boil it first.

    For frozen tortellini, I recommend either thawing it first and not boiling, or just boiling it a minute so it's not frozen.

    You can use any filling you like. I prefer ham & cheese, but it's also very tasty with pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, or just cheese.

    Just Layer and Bake!

    See notes above to determine whether you need to pre-cook your tortellini or not.

    1. Choose Your Dish

    Start by choosing an oven-safe dish to make it in. I like a smaller, round one (8 inches / 2 cm diameter across). You can also use a rectangular one that's about 10 x 7 inches (25 x 18 cm).

    I find the dish comes together better in a smaller dish, in a larger dish it will be more spread out. But that also means if you want to double this recipe - you definitely can! Just use the larger dish.

    Then grease it up, using butter, olive oil, cooking spray or something similar.

    buttering a pan

    2. Layer

    Add your ingredients in the following order:

    1. Tortellini
    2. Spinach
    3. Cheese & chili flakes
    4. Tortellini
    5. Spinach
    6. Cheeese & chili flakes

    Then, finally, pour over the cream and push down any spinach or pasta that's sticking up.

    adding cream to casserole

    3. Bake

    Bake 15 minutes or so, until the cheese is melted and the top is golden and browned.

    If it browns to much too soon: tent with foil for the remaining time.

    If it's not brown enough after 15 minutes: raise the temperature and let it bake a few more minutes.

    cheese tortellini casserole after baking

    What to Do with Leftovers

    Storing: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

    Freezing: Store leftovers in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

    Reheating in the oven: Reheat the entire casserole in the oven, covered with aluminum foil, at 350ºF (175ºC) for 15-20 minutes, until heated through.

    Reheating in microwave: Reheat in 1-minute increments, until heated through.

    top down view of a tortellini casserole
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd / alwaysusebutter.com.

    More Easy 30-Minute Meals

    • salmon spinach pasta in a pan.
      Smoked Salmon Pasta with Spinach & Lemon
    • Air fryer salmon patties.
      Air Fryer Salmon Patties
    • Spicy vodka pasta in a green bowl.
      Spicy Vodka Pasta - With or Without Vodka
    • A buffalo chicken ranch sandwich.
      Buffalo Chicken Ranch Sandwich
    • salmon stir fry in a blue bowl.
      Salmon Stir Fry
    • Buffalo chicken pasta.
      Buffalo Chicken Pasta
    • oven baked lemon pepper salmon in an oven pan with lemon wedges
      Baked Lemon Pepper Salmon
    • Air fryer chicken cutlets.
      Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

    Recipe

    top down view of a tortellini casserole

    Tortellini Casserole with Spinach (Tortellini al Forno)

    4.93 from 42 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 547kcal
    Prep time: 10 minutes mins
    Cook time: 15 minutes mins
    Total time: 25 minutes minutes
    Author: Emmeline Kemperyd
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • ½ lb dried tortellini any filling; see notes for how to use fresh or frozen tortellini
    • butter small amount for buttering the dish
    • 1 large handful fresh spinach
    • 1⅓ cups shredded cheese any kind that melts well
    • 1 teaspoon chili flakes more or less according to taste
    • 1 cups heavy cream half and half also works
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and cook the tortellini half as long as stated on the package.
      ½ lb dried tortellini
    • Butter a casserole dish that's either round and about 8 inches (20 cm) across or rectangular and about 10 x 7 inches (25 x 18 cm). The exact size is not important!
      butter
    • 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 the cheese. Pour over the cream, and try to spread it out as much as possible. 
      1 large handful fresh spinach, 1⅓ cups shredded cheese, 1 teaspoon chili flakes, 1 cups heavy cream
    • 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 (may contain affiliate links)

    • Cheese grater*
    • Pasta pot*
    • Non-stick oven pan*

    Video

    Notes

     
    • Dried tortellini: boil it first, halfway
    • Fresh tortellini: don't boil it first.
    • Frozen tortellini: either thaw it first and don't boil it, boil it just a minute so it's not frozen.
    • Make it vegetarian by using vegetarian tortellini
    • Bake time can vary with your oven. Tent with foil if it browns too much too quickly, and raise the heat if it's not browned after 15 minutes.
    • Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days
    • Store leftovers in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months
    • Reheat leftovers in the microwave in 1-minute increments
    • Reheat the entire casserole in the oven, covered with aluminum foil, at 350ºF (175ºC) for 15-20 minutes.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 547kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 138mg | Sodium: 832mg | Potassium: 159mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2655IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 326mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.

    Did you make this? Tag me today!Tag @alwaysusebutter and use the hashtag #alwaysusebutter!

    More Pasta Recipes

    • Gorgonzola tortellini casserole.
      Gorgonzola Tortellini Casserole With Walnuts
    • Buffalo mac and cheese.
      Buffalo Mac and Cheese
    • Ravioli casserole.
      No-Boil Ravioli Casserole
    • Steak pasta casserole.
      Cheesy Steak Pasta Casserole

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jess

      October 29, 2020 at 11:01 pm

      5 stars
      5 ingredients and made in less than 30 minutes?! Umm yes, please! I will make this any night of the week!

      Reply
    2. Anita

      October 29, 2020 at 10:19 pm

      5 stars
      I love it! Such an easy dish, perfect for busy days, and the flavors are just awesome!

      Reply
    3. Mariah

      June 14, 2020 at 7:08 pm

      I couldn’t find dry tortellini ANYWHERE at the small grocery store I stopped at on my way home, but they had frozen, and I already had the rest of the ingredients at home to make this, so I went ahead and got the frozen! Any idea if it will make a difference? I don’t have that much experience cooking. But I figured if you’re supposed to cook the tortellini ahead either way it might not matter that much? What do you think?

      Reply
      • Emmeline Kemperyd

        June 14, 2020 at 9:05 pm

        Hi Mariah! Good thinking! Shouldn't matter at all since you are going to cook them either way 🙂 I hope you enjoy! /Emmeline

        Reply
    4. Stacey

      September 22, 2019 at 2:43 pm

      What type of cream are you referring to in the recipe?

      Reply
      • Emmeline Kemperyd

        September 22, 2019 at 3:03 pm

        Hi Stacey! I use whipping cream or half n half depending on what I feel like (updated the recipe to clarify this). The nutriontal content is calculated for using whipping cream. Have a nice day! /Emmeline

        Reply
    5. Lisa Rios

      January 17, 2019 at 7:04 am

      This looks simple and delicious! Great for family gatherings. Nothing compares to a warm meal at home.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        January 18, 2019 at 9:36 am

        Thank you, Lisa! Agreed, an easy warm meal is just so nice.

        Reply
    6. Crystal (The Busy Mom Diary)

      January 12, 2019 at 5:13 pm

      This is an inspiring dish that I think I can tackle and my whole family will love.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        January 13, 2019 at 5:43 pm

        Thank you for commenting, Crystal! Let me know what your family thinks! 😀

        Reply
    7. Alyazia

      January 12, 2019 at 3:54 pm

      5 stars
      Now that is something I would love to follow, you just made full in love with you’re blog. As someone who live in Dubai/ United Arab Emirates, we don’t do this at all. I have just seen it in movies so this well be my next meal to try ❤️❤️❤️ I can’t experess how happy i am to find your blog

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        January 13, 2019 at 5:43 pm

        Aww thank you, Alyazia! Those are so kind words! I hope you try it and maybe you ca make it a thing n the UAE as well? 😀

        Reply
    8. Justyna Butler

      January 08, 2019 at 6:13 am

      Can I just tell you I can taste it just looking at the incredible pictures! Yum!

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        January 08, 2019 at 10:53 am

        Thank you, that’s what I’m trying for! 😊

        Reply
    9. Lyosha

      January 07, 2019 at 5:43 pm

      5 stars
      I actually love such simple bakes casseroles. SO delish and very simple to make, my favorite type of food cooking

      Reply
    10. Ashley Nicole Rice

      January 07, 2019 at 5:42 pm

      I'll have to play around with making a vegan version of this. It sounds like it would be a fun one to make!

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        January 07, 2019 at 6:19 pm

        Let me know if you find a good version! Would love to make a vegan version as well!

        Reply
    11. Helen Neale

      January 07, 2019 at 4:25 pm

      Wow, I have never tried to make this recipe looks really delicious and easy. I will try to make this for my kids, thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    12. Maartje van Sandwijk

      January 07, 2019 at 2:02 pm

      This looks so good! Definitely going to make this - but without the cheese 🙂

      Reply
    13. Bindu Thomas

      January 07, 2019 at 6:37 am

      5 stars
      This looks damn delicious! I love trying new recipes. Will surely make this soon.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        January 07, 2019 at 9:40 am

        That’s a good reaction! 😉 thanks for commenting!

        Reply
    14. Rosey

      January 07, 2019 at 4:48 am

      This is one of my faves. We had ravioli tonight but I almost decided on tortellini instead.

      Reply
    15. Gervin Khan

      January 07, 2019 at 4:03 am

      The dish looks tasty and great texture for it's creamy. I give a perfect score for this recipe, you've given this a great twist and very unique style of ingredients.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        January 07, 2019 at 9:39 am

        Thank you so much for commenting!

        Reply
    16. Kaitlyn Knoll

      January 07, 2019 at 2:10 am

      Mm! I'm vegan but def will try a vegan substitute of this. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    17. Ruth

      January 06, 2019 at 8:29 pm

      5 stars
      This looks delicious and you made it seem so easy to make! I love that you included what to serve with it too. I may have to try this out next time I’m making dinner 🙂

      Reply
    18. Jeannette (Jay Joy)

      January 06, 2019 at 7:23 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for the tip to cook the tortellini a little less as to not overcook after heating it up. Sounds great. I am a meat eater so I think this will go great with some chicken breast as well.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        January 06, 2019 at 7:36 pm

        Yeessss that’s a great idea! Will have to try it for myself. Thanks for commenting!

        Reply
    19. Judy

      January 06, 2019 at 5:55 pm

      The pictures and step by step instructions are amazing. This looks delicious and so easy to make. I think I’m going to have to try it. Never thought to do the dry pasta.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        January 06, 2019 at 6:02 pm

        Thank you! 😍 let me know when you try it, hope you’ll enjoy!

        Reply
    20. Sarah S Kasulke

      January 06, 2019 at 5:03 pm

      omgggg where has this been all my life!! I am making it this week

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        January 06, 2019 at 5:05 pm

        Love this!!! Let me know what you think!

        Reply
    21. Aia

      January 06, 2019 at 4:58 pm

      wow.. yum yum. I like the fact that you add nutritional facts..

      Reply
    22. Kayla

      January 06, 2019 at 3:12 pm

      I love adding spinach to so many things. My 7 year old is a noodle addict and I bet he would absolutely love this.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        January 06, 2019 at 3:28 pm

        Same here! Such an easy way to get some extra greens in there.

        Reply
    23. Michelle

      January 06, 2019 at 6:30 am

      This looks delicious! I wonder if there's a way to make it gluten free

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        January 06, 2019 at 12:45 pm

        Good question! If you find gluten-free tortellini you could use that - but not really sure if that’s a thing? 😕

        Reply
    24. Melanie Frost

      January 06, 2019 at 6:11 am

      5 stars
      That meal looks delicious. Makes me wish I knew how to cook. But I'm going to share with my hubby and get him to make it for me 🙂

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        January 06, 2019 at 12:44 pm

        This is probably a good dish to start with otherwise. But having your hubby cook for you sounds like a great idea! 😁

        Reply
    25. Alyazia

      January 05, 2019 at 4:58 pm

      That’s looks yummy 😋 I actually never tried this beacuse where I live it’s usually rice and so on, so this is never in our menu. I have to to do it tommrow

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        January 05, 2019 at 5:15 pm

        Well rice dishes are also nice 😍

        Reply
    26. Julia

      January 05, 2019 at 4:02 pm

      5 stars
      What a great idea using tortellini! I bet it tastes amazing!

      Reply
    27. kim

      January 05, 2019 at 3:52 pm

      5 stars
      Love this flavorful meal! Can't wait to whip it up this weekend!

      Reply
    28. Neli Howard

      January 05, 2019 at 3:24 pm

      5 stars
      What a nice and easy recipe! Perfect for weeknight dinners! I too am always on the lookout for quick and easy meals! The tortellini bake looks Delish! Thanks

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        January 05, 2019 at 5:14 pm

        You’re welcome! ❤️

        Reply
    29. Claudia Lamascolo

      January 05, 2019 at 3:02 pm

      I love pasta and tortellini is one of my family favorites. We make them several times a year. These sound great baked!

      Reply
    30. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

      January 05, 2019 at 2:32 pm

      5 stars
      What a tasty looking dish! My family would absolutely love this and it takes such a short time to make! Definitely giving this a go.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        January 05, 2019 at 5:14 pm

        Let me know how you like it! 😃

        Reply
    Newer Comments »
    4.93 from 42 votes (18 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Sliced air fryer roast beef.
      Air Fryer Roast Beef

    • top down view of a tortellini casserole
      Cheesy Tortellini Casserole with Spinach

    • Creamy Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake [Dump and bake!]

    • sliced rib eye steak topped with salt
      How to Cook a Rib Eye Steak Without a Cast Iron Skillet (3 Methods)

    Popular Articles

    • Making gino.
      20 Heavenly Desserts That Will Satisfy Your Cravings

    • Mexican beef and rice casserole.
      30 Hearty Ground Beef Dishes We Crave Every Week

    • Falafel bake.
      25 Easy Dinners You Can Just Dump, Bake and Devour

    • A bowl of broccoli and chicken teriyaki.
      24 Flavorful Chicken Meals You Can Just Dump and Go

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    All affiliate links are always marked with "*" or "affiliate".

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    A collage of sites where always use butter content has been featured.

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Disclaimer
    • Disclosures
    • Editorial Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • info@alwaysusebutter.com
    • Pink Giraffe Ventures AB, Runstens Byväg 51, 147 91 Grödinge, Sweden
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Copyright © 2018-2025 Pink Giraffe Ventures AB

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.