Italian style meatballs, ravioli, red sauce and spinach cooked together and topped with cheese. An easy dump and go meal that you can make in the Instant Pot, slow cooker or oven.
Case Closed Casserole
Case closed this is one the best meat and pasta combinations! And it’s such an easy recipe for those nights when you don’t feel like cooking much. You just dump everything in and go! Choose which method you want to make the recipe…Instant Pot, slow cooker or in the oven.
By using jarred sauce and pre-made meatballs you really cut down on prep time. You can always make your own meatballs if you prefer (just cook the meatballs before you start the recipe). But for sake of ease I just grabbed a bag of frozen meatballs at Smiths. This meal turned out great and Greg and I loved it.
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Beef or chicken broth–or water and Better than Bouillon
- Spinach–fresh or frozen
- Frozen Italian-style meatballs–I used Kroger flame broiled Italian style frozen meatballs
- Frozen cheese ravioli–or tortellini
- Pasta sauce–I like the Bertolli brand
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Garlic powder–or granulated garlic
- Black pepper
- Italian seasoning
- Parmesan cheese–shredded or grated
- Mozzarella cheese
Instant Pot Steps
Pour broth into Instant Pot. Add in the chopped spinach, meatballs, ravioli and finally pasta sauce. Sprinkle the red pepper, garlic powder, pepper and Italian seasoning on top. Don’t stir.
Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 1 minute on high pressure. When time is up let pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
Stir. Sprinkle the cheeses on top and let melt. Serve and enjoy.
Notes/Tips
- Serve with a green salad and Italian salad dressing. I like the Olive Garden Italian dressing. Garlic bread is also a great side to this tasty Italian dinner.
- Try adding a dollop of ricotta cheese to your individual serving to make it more like lasagna.
- How come only a 1 minute cooking time? Because the pot is fairly full and has frozen ingredients inside of it, it will take a while to come to pressure. The whole time the pot is coming to pressure the food will be cooking.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 3 or 8 quart pot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Other recipes you can make with spinach are Instant Pot Creamy Tortellini, Spinach And Chicken Soup and USU Casserole.
More Instant Pot Ravioli Recipes…
Instant Pot Lasagna Ravioli
A quick and easy meal made with ground beef, ravioli, spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese. All the flavors of lasagna without all the work!
Instant Pot Spinach and Ravioli Lasagna
An easy 5 ingredient dinner! Cheese ravioli, spinach, pesto, mozzarella cheese and alfredo sauce layered in a dish and cooked until hot and bubbly.
Instant Pot Million Dollar Ravioli Casserole
With ravioli, four kinds of cheese and Italian sausage this casserole tastes like a million bucks! Make it in your Instant Pot, slow cooker or oven.
Reagan’s Rockin Ravioli
Instant Pot or Crockpot ravioli and meatballs with homemade marinara sauce, parmesan and ricotta cheese.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Case Closed Casserole
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Italian style meatballs, ravioli, red sauce and spinach cooked together and topped with cheese. An easy dump and go meal that you can make in the Instant Pot, slow cooker or oven.
Ingredients
- 1 cup beef or chicken broth
- 2 cups chopped spinach
- 1 (14 oz) bag frozen Italian meatballs
- 1 (18 oz) bag frozen cheese ravioli
- 1 (24 oz) jar or can of pasta sauce
- Pinch of crushed red pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Pour broth into Instant Pot. Add in the chopped spinach, meatballs, ravioli and finally pasta sauce. Sprinkle the red pepper, garlic powder, pepper and Italian seasoning on top. Don’t stir.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 1 minute on high pressure. When time is up let pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Stir. Sprinkle the cheeses on top and let melt. Serve and enjoy.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- (No broth for slow cooker version) Add the chopped spinach, meatballs, ravioli, pasta sauce, red pepper, garlic powder, pepper and Italian seasoning into slow cooker. Stir.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
- Sprinkle the cheeses on top and let melt. Serve and enjoy.
Oven Instructions:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl stir together the chopped spinach, meatballs, ravioli, pasta sauce, red pepper, garlic powder, pepper and Italian seasoning. Pour the mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Bake for 45 minutes.
- Sprinkle the cheeses on top and bake for 15 more minutes.
- Serve and enjoy.
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Instant Pot/Slow Cooker/Oven
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Easy to make and so very good! I made this as written in my 3 qt. IP Mini and released the pressure after 8 minutes (halfway between the recommended 5-10 min). Thanks as always, and enjoy this snowstorm.
Thanks for the 5 stars John! I am enjoying the snow. It is so beautiful 🙂
I did exactly as the recipe says to do it was good but I had the burn before the 1 minute was up but as I said I did love it what can I do so next time I will not have the burn
I made this today and it turned out great! My wife (not a pasta lover) even liked it. I might skip the red pepper next time, but there will definitely be a next time. Yum!
Yay! So glad you both enjoyed it!
I made this tonight for dinner I had to cooked it 2 minutes for the ravioli to be softer really good I used fresh spinach and melted a blend of Italian cheese over it with garlic nots melted white cheddar cheese really yummy ty Karen
wow that sounds like an amazing dinner!!
As with comment above, wondering if fresh or frozen spinach can be used
yes either fresh or frozen will work
This sounds great! Could I use a thawed 10oz package of frozen spinach?
Keep up the good work! I love these simple ‘dump’ recipes!
Thank you
yep you can use frozen spinach. It can be thawed but doesn’t have to be.