Baked Tortellini

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef

• 1/2 medium onion, finely minced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/2 tsp dried parsley

• 1/4 tsp dried oregano

• 1/4 tsp dried thyme

• Salt & pepper to taste

• 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce

• 2 packages (9 oz) tortellini

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

• Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (190°C).

2. In a large skillet, over medium heat begin browning the ground beef.

   *I use this large oven proof skillet with a well fitting lid. You can also use a Dutch oven. If you do not have one, you can just transfer to a large baking dish and cover with aluminum foil!

3. Add in the minced onion and garlic and continue to cook until the meat is no longer pink.

4. Season with the dried parsley, thyme and oregano. Salt and pepper to taste. Mix well to combine.

5. Stir in the marinara sauce and let it simmer for a few minutes to heat through.

6. Off the heat, add in the tortellini.

7. Add half of the mozzarella and mix well, ensuring everything is evenly combined.

8. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.

9. Cover the skillet dish and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

10. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.

11. Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.

12. Enjoy!

Tips:

• If you do not have a meat chopper for browning ground beef, this is your sign you need one. It makes it SO much easier and I love that it’s dishwasher safe.

• You can use any kind of tortellini you like for this recipe! I love using this one because it is stuffed with kale for some added veggies.

• You can also use frozen tortellini for this recipe. Just pour it into a colander and run hot water over it for a few minutes to slightly thaw it out before adding to the pot.

• If you have fresh herbs, use them!! You use 3x the amount for fresh herbs because they are not as potent as dried herbs.