Cheesy Baked Tortellini and Green Bean Fries ($10 Family Dinner Idea)

Published: by Brigette on September 15, 2026  |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This recipe was inspired by free tortellini (thanks to B1G1 sales plus rebates) that I got at Publix recently. If you love lasagna or spaghetti bakes, this Baked Tortellini is an easier twist on those recipes! It came together so easily, and it’s definitely a recipe I will make on repeat next time I get free or cheap tortellini.

The green bean fries are one of my favorite sides, and they pair so well with many meals. Even people who don’t love veggies will probably enjoy them! Feel free to be creative as far as seasonings go, but I usually stick with the tried-and-true basics since my family isn’t very adventurous when it comes to new flavors, haha.

This week’s $10 Family Dinner — including the baking time — was finished in less than an hour. I topped it with some fresh rosemary, since I just happened to have some growing on my back porch. Yum!

This post is part of our $10 Dinner Ideas series, brought to you by Brigette on our team! Each week, she shares easy, delicious, and affordable family-friendly dinner ideas that cost less than $10 to make, use everyday ingredients, and are super quick meals.

Cheesy Tortellini Bake Dinner Menu:

• Cheesy Tortellini Bake
• Green Bean Fries

Ingredients for Baked Tortellini:

• 1-lb ground meat (I used ground chicken – Publix – $1/lb with coupon) — $1
• 4-5 garlic cloves, finely chopped (Aldi – $1.35/3 heads) — $0.15
• 2 12-oz bags tortellini (Publix – free with B1G1 sale and rebates) — $0
• 1 24-oz jar marinara sauce (Aldi) — $1.47
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• Salt, to taste
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided (Aldi – $3.29/4 cups) — $2.47
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (Aldi – $2.99/16 oz) — $0.40

Total for Cheesy Tortellini Bake: $5.49 (serves 6-8)

Ingredients for Green Bean Fries:

• 2 1-lb bags green beans, washed, dried and ends snipped off (Aldi – $2.35/lb) — $4.70
• Drizzle of olive oil
• Salt, to taste
• Sprinkle of Parmesan cheese

Total for Green Bean Fries: $10.45 (serves 6)

Total Cost for Dinner: $10.45 (plus cost of seasonings) (makes 8 servings)

How to Make Baked Tortellini:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a skillet, fry the ground meat and chopped garlic until meat is cooked through, stirring occasionally.

2. Stir in marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and salt to taste.

3. While meat is frying, heat a large pot of boiling water and cook the tortellini al dente, according to the directions on the bag.

4. Add the cooked tortellini and 1/2 of the shredded mozzarella cheese to the meat/sauce mixture and stir. Pour into a 9×13 pan and top with remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.

5. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until starting to brown.

6. While the pasta is baking, spread the green beans on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and Parmesan cheese.

7. Put green beans into the oven and bake with the baked tortellini for approximately 30 minutes. When the pasta has finished cooking, take it out of the oven and turn the oven temperature up to 450. Continue baking the green beans until they are tender and starting to brown, an additional 10 or so minutes, depending on how “done” you like them. You can finish them off under the broiler if you prefer them more crispy.

Recipe

Cheesy Baked Tortellini with Green Bean Fries ($10 Family Dinner Idea)

Author Brigette

Course dinner, Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

If you love lasagna or spaghetti bakes, this cheesy tortellini bake is an easier twist on those recipes! It came together so easily, and is definitely a recipe I will make on repeat next time I get free or cheap tortellini. Even people who don’t love veggies will probably enjoy these delicious green bean fries. This entire meal — including the baking time — was finished in less than an hour, making it an excellent weeknight dinner!

Ingredients  

Ingredients for Cheesy Baked Tortellini:

• 1- lb ground meat I used ground chicken – Publix – $1/lb with coupon — $1
• 4-5 cloves garlic finely chopped (Aldi – $1.35/3 heads) — $0.15
• 2 bags tortellini (12-oz each) Publix – free with B1G1 sale and rebates — $0
• 1 jar marinara sauce (24-oz) Aldi — $1.47
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• Salt to taste
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided (Aldi – $3.29/4 cups) — $2.47
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese Aldi – $2.99/16 oz — $0.40

Ingredients for Green Bean Fries:

• 2 lb green beans washed, dried and ends snipped off (Aldi – $2.35/lb) — $4.70
• Drizzle Olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Sprinkle Parmesan cheese

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a skillet, fry the ground meat and chopped garlic until meat is cooked through, stirring occasionally.

• Stir in marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and salt to taste.

• While meat is frying, heat a large pot of boiling water and cook the tortellini al dente, according to the directions on the bag.

• Add the cooked tortellini and 1/2 of the shredded mozzarella cheese to the meat/sauce mixture and stir. Pour into a 9×13 pan and top with remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.

• Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until starting to brown.

• While the pasta is baking, spread the green beans on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and Parmesan cheese.

• Put green beans into the oven and bake with the tortellini bake for approximately 30 minutes. When the pasta has finished cooking, take it out of the oven and turn the oven temperature up to 450. Continue baking the green beans until they are tender and starting to brown, an additional 10 or so minutes, depending on how “done” you like them. You can finish them off under the broiler if you prefer them more crispy.

Nutrition

Calories: 628kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 138mg | Sodium: 1517mg | Potassium: 835mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1619IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 439mg | Iron: 4mg

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FAQs about Cheesy Tortellini Bake:

Does tortellini need to be boiled before baking?

Yes, make sure you boil dried tortellini before baking it. But, if you’re using fresh tortellini and plenty of sauce, it can cook in the sauce while baking and doesn’t need to be boiled beforehand.

What are some common mistakes when making baked tortellini?

The easiest mistake to make is boiling the tortellini too long, which results in mushy pasta. Follow package instructions to cook the tortellini al dente before assembling and baking it.

How to reheat baked tortellini?

This cheesy tortellini bake is a delicious leftover meal! Simply reheat it in the microwave for about a minute, stirring partway through. Or you can reheat it in the oven at 350 for 10-15 minutes.

Can you bake frozen tortellini?

Yes! It’s easy to bake frozen tortellini without boiling it first — just mix the frozen tortellini with the sauce and cover with foil to bake, as instructed in steps 4 & 5 of this recipe.

Can you freeze cooked tortellini?

You can freeze this tortellini bake. Here’s what you’ll do: assemble the casserole as instructed but don’t top with cheese. Allow it to cool, cover it with plastic wrap and foil, and then freeze for up to 3 months. Before serving day, thaw the casserole in the fridge overnight. To bake, top it with cheeses, remove the plastic wrap, and bake covered with foil at 350 for about 50 minutes.

More Ideas for Family Dinners Under $10:

• Bubble Pizza
• Creamy Chicken and Rice Skillet
• French Toast Casserole and Baked Scrambled Eggs
• Easy Baked Chicken
• Biscuits and Gravy
• Quick & Easy Mini Calzones
• Mexican Lasagna
• Easy Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta Skillet
• Chicken Alfredo Pizza
• Chicken Burgers and Baked Fries
• Spaghetti Pizza
• Cheesy Potato Soup and Bread Machine Dinner Rolls

And, be sure to check out all our easy dinner recipes here!

If you make this Cheesy Baked Tortellini family dinner, we’d love for you to leave a review and let us know how it turned out!

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