Cheesy Pepperoni Tortellini Bake (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Pasta
01 -
1 bundle (16 oz) of cheese-filled tortellini
→ Cheese Sauce
02 -
1 tablespoon of olive oil
03 -
2 cups of milk
04 -
8 oz of Velveeta, cut into chunks
05 -
½ teaspoon of Italian spice mix
06 -
2 garlic cloves, diced
07 -
2 cups of a cheese mix with mozzarella as the base
→ Pizza Elements
08 -
½ a cup of pizza sauce
09 -
2 oz of quartered pepperoni slices (around ½ cup)
10 -
Extra pepperoni slices for decoration
11 -
1 cup of mozzarella cheese, shredded
# Instructions:
01 -
Turn your oven on to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish or something similar.
02 -
Follow the cooking directions on the package to make the cheese tortellini al dente. Fresh ones might take 2-3 minutes, frozen ones 7-9 minutes. Drain them well and set them aside.
03 -
Warm up the olive oil in a large pan or skillet over medium heat. Toss in the chopped garlic and stir it around for 1-2 minutes until it smells great and turns lightly golden, but don’t let it burn.
04 -
Slowly pour the milk into the pan with the garlic. Sprinkle in the Italian seasoning. Warm the milk till it’s hot but not boiling over.
05 -
Turn the heat to low. Start adding the Velveeta cubes little by little, along with the shredded cheese. Stir constantly until everything is melted and turns into a smooth, creamy sauce.
06 -
Turn off the stove. Add the tortellini to the cheese sauce and gently stir in the quartered pepperoni pieces so everything’s covered in sauce.
07 -
Dump the cheesy tortellini mixture into the baking dish you prepared. Spread it out to make an even layer.
08 -
Spoon small scoops of pizza sauce on top of the tortellini mixture. Swirl the sauce lightly with a spoon to create a marbled look.
09 -
Spread the additional pepperoni slices on top in an even layer. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella over everything.
10 -
Bake for 25 minutes in your preheated oven. Take it out when the cheese on top is melted, bubbling, and forming golden brown edges.
11 -
Once out of the oven, allow the dish to cool for 5-10 minutes before digging in. This helps the cheese settle and makes it easier to serve.
# Notes:
01 -
Want a spicy kick? Sprinkle red pepper flakes into the cheese sauce or use spicy pepperoni.
02 -
Feel free to switch up the tortellini—try spinach, meat-filled, or other types.
03 -
This dish warms up really well the next day in the oven or microwave.
04 -
For a one-dish, complete meal idea, you could add cooked sausage or veggies like mushrooms, peppers, or spinach.