Creamy Mediterranean Tortellini Bake

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Tortellini bake is like a regular pasta bake, but better! This cheesy Mediterranean tortellini bake is packed with roasted veggies and a luxurious creamy tomato sauce.

A spoon taking a scoop of tortellini bake from a baking dish.

I knew this tortellini bake would be good, but I don’t think I realised just how good until I took my first bite. Not only does it contain my favourite creamy stuffed pasta, but also roasted vegetables, salty black olives, and oh-so-much gooey mozzarella cheese. Heaven on a plate!

A gooey cheesy scoop of pasta bake being scooped from a dish.

Vegetarian tortellini bake

I make pasta bake fairly regularly, but tortellini bake takes a simple pasta bake to a whole new level.

Why use plain pasta, when you can instead use little pockets of fresh tortellini, stuffed with creamy spinach and ricotta (or any other favourite filling!)?

Ravioli would also work well, or any other shape of filled pasta.

A cheesy vegetarian pasta bake in a dish with a scoop removed.

Creamy tomato sauce

The tortellini in this bake is coated in a silky and luxurious tomato and mascarpone sauce – one of my all-time favourite pasta sauces. It’s super quick and easy to make, and the flavour is top notch.

On this occasion, you can even mix the ingredients together straight in the baking dish, to save on washing up! And if there’s anything that can make a meal taste even better, it’s only using one pan – the knowledge that there aren’t too many dishes to wash afterwards feels great.

A portion of creamy tortellini bake in a bowl with green salad.

Mediterranean vegetables

Of course, I’m a big fan of veggies, so this pasta bake also contains plenty of roasted vegetables – I used red onion, pepper, and mushrooms.

And, for an extra pop of Mediterranean flavour, I also added some sun-dried tomatoes and black olives. They really take this bake to the next level!

Cheesy pasta bake in a white baking dish.

How to make creamy Mediterranean tortellini bake

Step 1: Roast the vegetables

You can choose to use any vegetables that roast up nicely. I like to stick with Mediterranean-style veg, such as:

  • peppers (red, orange or yellow have more flavour than green)
  • mushrooms
  • onion or red onion
  • courgette (zucchini)
  • aubergine (eggplant)
  • asparagus

Whatever you choose, mix all your vegetables together in a baking dish, and give them 20 minutes or so in the oven.

Mediterranean vegetables in a baking dish before and after roasting.

Step 2: Make the creamy tomato sauce

I’m the queen of lazy shortcuts, so I mix the sauce ingredients right in the dish with the vegetables. Just add a tin of tomatoes and a good dollop of mascarpone cheese, and mix it all together.

Not only does this mean you don’t have to wash another separate pan, but the fact that the baking dish is already hot also helps to melt down the mascarpone, and creates that luscious sauce.

At this point I also add a good handful of black olives and sun-dried tomatoes to really amp up the flavour.

Roasted vegetables in a creamy tomato sauce in a dish.

Step 3: Add the tortellini

Add some cooked tortellini to the dish, and mix it well to coat it in the sauce and distribute the veg as evenly as you can.

My favourite flavour of filled pasta is spinach and ricotta, but pretty much any flavour will work well in this tortellini bake. Fresh tortellini only takes about 3 or 4 minutes to cook in a pan of water, so it’s much quicker than using regular pasta.

Tortellini mixed with roasted vegetables and creamy tomato sauce in a baking dish.

Step 4: Top with cheese and bake

What good is a pasta bake without a gooey, crispy cheese topping? Just sprinkle the whole thing with a generous handful of grated cheese, then pop it in the oven to get nice and crispy.

I love using a mozzarella-cheddar mix – the cheddar adds flavour, and the mozzarella helps it get all gooey and stringy. I often use the pre-grated stuff, as it’s just so convenient – no shame.

The end result is truly irresistible. You just know this is going to be good, don’t you?

Aerial view of a cheesy pasta bake with a crispy cheese topping.

How to serve tortellini bake

As with all pasta bakes, this tortellini bake is really hearty and filling, so it doesn’t need much to go with it. I’d recommend a nice green salad, or perhaps some extra veg (I’m on an asparagus kick at the moment, which would make a nice side dish!).

To be honest, if you can just get it onto a plate, rather than munching it all straight from the pan, you’ve done a good job.

More Easy Pasta Bakes

A large spoon taking a scoop of a cheesy vegetarian tortellini bake.

Creamy Mediterranean Tortellini Bake

Tortellini bake is like a regular pasta bake, but better! This cheesy Mediterranean tortellini bake is packed with roasted veggies and a luxurious creamy tomato sauce.

If you’ve cooked this recipe, don’t forget to leave a star rating!

5 from 10 votes
Print Pin Comment
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 555kcal
Author: Becca Heyes

Ingredients

  • 1 red onion, sliced or diced
  • 1 red pepper, diced
  • ~ 6 medium mushrooms, diced
  • 1 Tbsp oil
  • ~ 5 pieces sun-dried tomato (I used the ones marinated in oil), finely chopped
  • 2 Tbsp sliced black olives
  • 400 g tin (~ 1 1/3 cups) chopped tomatoes
  • 2 Tbsp cream cheese or mascarpone
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 600 g fresh tortellini (I used spinach and ricotta flavour)
  • 100 g (~ 1 cup) grated cheese (I used a mozzarella and cheddar mix)

Instructions

  • Add the chopped onion, peppers and mushrooms to a baking dish (mine measured approximately 8 x 8 inches, but it was a bit of a tight squeeze – slightly bigger would be better!). Toss them in a little oil, and roast at 190°C (Gas Mark 5 / 375°F) for around 20 minutes, until fairly soft.
  • While the vegetables are roasting, boil the tortellini in plenty of water, according to the instructions on the packet. Mine only took about 3-4 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  • When the vegetables are cooked, add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and olives to the dish, along with the tin of tomatoes and the cream cheese. Mix well to combine, allowing the cheese to melt into a silky, creamy sauce. Season with a generous amount of black pepper.
  • Add the cooked tortellini to the dish, and carefully mix until the pasta is fully coated in the sauce, and the vegetables are fairly well distributed. Top with a generous handful of grated cheese, and return to the oven for a further 10 minutes or so, until the topping is crisped up to your liking.

Notes

Feel free to use whatever vegetables you have on hand, as long as you choose ones that will roast nicely in approximately the same time. Peppers, onions, mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, asparagus, etc. will all work well.
You can swap the tortellini for ravioli, or any other shape of filled pasta, if you like. Any flavour will work fine.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Creamy Mediterranean Tortellini Bake
Amount Per Serving (1 portion)
Calories 555 Calories from Fat 227
% Daily Value*
Fat 25.2g39%
Saturated Fat 11.6g58%
Cholesterol 27mg9%
Sodium 216mg9%
Potassium 510mg15%
Carbohydrates 60.4g20%
Fiber 8.7g35%
Sugar 8.5g9%
Protein 21.1g42%
Calcium 177mg18%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.

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