Baked Ravioli with Creamy Pasta Sauce

This baked ravioli is comfort food without the chaos, just boil, layer, and bake. The secret? Cream cheese stirred into the marinara for a rich, velvety sauce that makes it taste like you cooked all day (spoiler: you didn’t).

 

Baked Ravioli with Cream Cheese Tomato Pasta Sauce

What’s better than a gooey, cheesy pasta bake? One that doesn’t take forever. This baked ravioli is a shortcut to comfort food without the layers, stress, or mountain of dishes. It’s the “I had no plan for dinner” dinner that somehow everyone loves.

Honestly, if you’ve got 30 minutes and a bag of ravioli, you’re basically there. The trick? A quick, creamy marinara that tastes homemade thanks to a sneaky spoonful of cream cheese.

This goes perfectly with a quick batch of these easy skillet green beans with bacon or a hunk of cheesy garlic bread.

Shortcut Dinner With a Twist

I love lasagna—but I do not love building lasagna. All those layers, all that time… not what I’m in the mood for after a long day. This baked ravioli skips the fuss without skimping on flavor. You boil the ravioli, stir up a quick creamy tomato sauce, and layer everything into a baking dish. Done.

And the sauce? It starts with jarred marinara (use your favorite), but when you melt in cream cheese and toss in some thyme and parsley, it becomes something else entirely. Smooth, tangy, herb-flecked magic.

This baked ravioli has become a go-to when I don’t want to think but still want something homemade-ish. It hits that balance of “fast enough for a Tuesday” and “cozy enough to feel like you made an effort.” And honestly, no one’s asking questions when it’s covered in cheese.

What to Have on Hand Before You Start

Here are some of the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe. Make sure to check the recipe card for the full list.

• Cheese ravioli: Use fresh or frozen ravioli filled with cheese. Frozen ravioli also works. Just add a couple extra minutes to the cooking time.
• Marinara sauce: Use your favorite store-bought jar or leftover homemade sauce. 
• Cream cheese: Stirring this into the sauce makes it extra creamy. Use a full-fat or light cream cheese block.
• Mozzarella cheese: Use a block of mozzarella and shred it yourself if you want the best melt.
• Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated parmesan melts better and adds more flavor.

Your Easiest Weeknight Pasta Bake

Step One: Cook the Ravioli

Boil the ravioli just until they’re tender. Drain and set them aside.

Step Two: Make the Creamy Sauce

Pro tip: You can skip the microwaving if your cream cheese is at room temperature. If you’re short on time, you can soften cream cheese quickly.

Step Three: Assemble the Layers

Step Four: Bake Until Bubbly

This baked ravioli has become a go-to when I don’t want to think but still want something homemade-ish. It hits that balance of “fast enough for a Tuesday” and “cozy enough to feel like you made an effort.” And honestly, no one’s asking questions when it’s covered in cheese.

If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.