Cheesy Ground Beef Tortellini

Cheesy, creamy and rich with a generous portion of meat in every bite this Ground Beef Tortellini is an easy skillet meal.

This easy ground beef recipe trending on TikTok is a quick meal that makes weeknights easier.

Ground Beef Tortellini Recipe

Meaty, saucy, and cheesy mixed with pasta makes a delicious skillet meal of Ground Beef and Tortellini in under 30 minutes.

Familiar flavors of beef, marinara, tortellini and mozzarella cheese are enhanced with a thicker and richer sauce created in part by cream cheese.

Our first test of this popular Tik Tok recipe was very basic. Taking inspiration from our Alfredo Spaghetti and our Pasta with Marinara and Alfredo Sauce by adding more herbs like garlic, onion and oregano really helps the flavors become more memorable.

We love how the three cheese tortellini compliments the cream cheese and mozzarella cheese to make a super cheesy ground beef tortellini recipe. Serve with a simple salad and your meal is done!

The mozzarella can be stirred in at the end to create more of a casserole and serve even faster. We like to sprinkle the cheese on top and broil in the oven to make a tortellini bake that feels more upscale.

Simple ingredients create a meal the whole family can enjoy and the tortellini makes it extra special by adding another flavor and texture of cheese. Similar flavors in our Cream Cheese and Beef Stuff Shells and Baked Spaghetti with Sausage are also very enjoyable.

Why This Recipe Works:

• This tortellini skillet meal can be made in less than 30 minutes making meal time super easy!
• Leftovers freeze and reheat well to save time later in the week.
• Ground beef and pasta make a reasonably priced meal to help keep grocery costs down.
• Browning the cheese in the oven with the broil setting make this taste like a restaurant quality tortellini bake.

Ingredients Needed:

• Ground Beef – We like to use a lean ground beef and drain any drippings before adding other ingredients.
• Cream Cheese – Adds a special richness to this beef and pasta skillet meal.
• Tortellini – A 12 ounce bag of Barilla three cheese tortellini is our favorite, but refrigerated and frozen options can work fine too.
• Marinara Sauce – Is a bit sweeter and smoother than pasta sauce, however your favorite sauce will work fine.
• Garlic & Onion – I like garlic powder and granulated onion, but minced garlic and chopped onion can be added to the beef if you like. Just be sure to use some seasonings to make the dish more memorable.
• Oregano – After our first round of testing a green, Italian herb like oregano or even Italian seasoning help this dish quite a bit.
• Mozzarella Cheese – Stir in at the end to melt and make a casserole or sprinkle on top and set in the oven to bubble and brown – this will really level up your meal.

Step By Step Instructions

I like to get the pot of water on the stove and then start browning the ground beef.

Season boiling water well with salt and cook the tortellini according to the directions on the package. Drain and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 350℉

Using lean ground beef may mean there is not any excess fat to drain. Use a paper towel to help absorb drippings if necessary.

I try to soften the cream cheese before adding it to the meat, but if I don’t have time slicing it makes stirring much quicker.

Use a wooden spoon or firm spatula to mix the cream cheese and meat well.

Then add marinara sauce. Pour the sauce on top and add your favorite herbs and seasonings.

Season with salt and pepper and stir well.

I like to use my Swiss Diamond sauté pan that is deep enough to hold all of the ingredients, still has room to stir without spilling and can go right in the oven to melt and brown the cheese.

This mixture can simmer for ten minutes while the pasta cooks or the tortellini can be stirred in right away.

Stir everything together well.

Be sure all of the ingredients are warmed through before adding cheese.

Sprinkle cheese on top and set in the oven uncovered for 5 to 7 minutes until the cheese is melted. A cast iron skillet works well for transferring directly to the oven as do several other brands of oven safe pans.

Then turn the oven to broil and watch closely for 1 – 3 minutes until the cheese is lightly brown on top. Ovens vary significantly, so take this advice seriously and do not walk away.

Once the tortellini bake with ground beef and cream cheese is very eye appealing serve immediately and enjoy!

Recipe Tips & Tricks

• Once the pasta is added the cheese can be stirred in, cooked until melted and served immediately if desired. The baking is an additional step that is personal preference.
• 12 ounces of tortellini gives the balance of meat, cheese and past that we enjoy the most. We found the dry Barilla tortellini in the pasta aisle to be exactly 12 ounces. Most refrigerated tortellini came in different sizes. Frozen works fine too, just try to use 12 ounces of whatever type you choose.
• Cheese tortellini or cheese and spinach tortellini work best, we prefer to avoid the sausage tortellini since this recipe already has plenty of hamburger.
• When using the broil setting never walk away from the oven – please stand and watch to avoid burning. A perfect tortellini bake can go from golden brown to burnt in just seconds.

We love skillet meals with ground beef and here are several more Skillet Meals that look great.

More Quick Meals with Pasta:

Cajun Sausage Pasta is another one pot wonder with a rich tomato flavor on every bite of pasta and Smoked Sausage being the star of the show.

Spaghetti & Pizza Casserole is a kid favorite that adults enjoy too. My kids love taking leftovers in their lunch.

Big Batch of Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing is a winner for parties and crowds.