pasta

Make Ahead One Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta

Pasta is always a safe bet when it comes to finding family-friendly dinner ideas. And when you add veggies and Cajun spices to the pot, you have a delicious dinner that everyone is sure to enjoy. On top of being packed with flavor, this one pot Cajun chicken pasta is also super simple to make. Prep the ingredients ahead of time and store them in your freezer until you’re ready to start cooking. After that, all you have to do is heat up the pasta on the stovetop to get dinner on the table in a flash.I think my favorite culinary discovery of last year was one pot freezer meals. Pasta is always a comfort food for me, so being able to make these dishes ahead and then cooking them up including the pasta all in one pot is awesome. One pot equals less dishes. And that’s always a win for me!

Of all the one pot freezer meals we made this year, this cajun chicken pasta one topped my list of bests.

One Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cut into 1 inch cubes
1 1/2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
1 purple onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups chicken broth
19 ounces diced tomatoes with spicy red pepper
1/4 cup heavy cream
4 ounces cream cheese
1 tablespoon parsley
salt and pepper

For Day of Cooking:

4 cups penne pasta

Assembly Instructions:

Combine the cooked chicken with the Cajun seasoning, bell peppers, onion, garlic, chicken broth, tomatoes, heavy cream, cream cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper in a large freezer bag. Squeeze the ingredients together to mix.
Remove excess air from the bag and seal to close the bag. Freeze the ingredients until you’re ready to prepare the pasta.

Cooking instructions:

Transfer the pasta ingredients to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
Pour the contents of the bag into a large skillet. Bring the liquid to a boil, then add the penne pasta. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the pasta is tender, which should take around 15 minutes.
Top with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes before serving.

How Do You Store Cajun Chicken Pasta?

After everyone is finished eating dinner, you might have a few leftovers on your hands. Transfer the pasta to an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to enjoy it again. The pasta will stay good for up to four days.

To reheat your dinner, cook it in the microwave or transfer the pasta to a skillet and cook over low heat until the ingredients are cooked through.

What’s in Cajun Seasoning?

Using storebought Cajun seasoning is the easiest way to prep this meal. But if you’ve never used this type of seasoning before, you may be wondering what flavors to expect when you eat your dinner.

Most Cajun seasoning varieties feature a combination of spices and seasonings, including:

Paprika
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Oregano
Cayenne pepper
Red pepper flakes
Black pepper
Salt

See how to put together homemade Cajun seasoning in the video below:

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe Ideas

Since you can whip up this spicy pasta dinner in a single pot, it’s a great option for a busy weeknight. That means you’re going to want to add it to your dinner rotation right away! And with these recipe ideas, you can adjust the ingredients to create the perfect one-pot meal for your family tonight.

Add some sausage. Mixing sausage into your pasta is a great way to add even more Cajun flavor. Slice some smoked sausage and add it to the bag with the rest of your ingredients before freezing to add some spice and flavor to your dinner.
Mix in some bacon. Another simple way to take the flavor of your pasta up a notch is with the help of cooked bacon. After cooking your bacon, chop it into small pieces and stir the meat into the bag with the rest of the pasta ingredients.
Add more veggies. Make your pasta dinner even healthier by adding more vegetables to the dish. In addition to peppers and tomatoes, this Cajun pasta would taste amazing with other veggies, like corn, zucchini, mushrooms, carrots or spinach, added to the pot.
Adjust the heat. Cajun season has plenty of spice in it already. But if you want to take the spiciness of your pasta to the next level, there are a few simple ways you can add more heat to the dish. The easiest way is to increase the amount of Cajun seasoning you add to the dish. Or mix in some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to increase the spiciness.
Try different types of pasta. Penne pasta is a great option for this one-pot meal because it’s quick and easy to cook. But you can use a variety of different pasta types with this recipe, including bowtie pasta, elbow macaroni, or fettucine. You can even swap the traditional pasta for whole wheat or gluten free varieties.

What to Serve with Cajun Chicken Pasta?

This recipe for Cajun chicken pasta is made with protein, veggies, and grains. That means it’s a full meal all on its own! But if you want to round out your dinner with some side dishes, try serving your pasta with one of these delicious ideas.

Sliced French bread
Garlic toast
Dinner rolls
Side salads
Corn on the cob
Steamed vegetables
Cornbread

One Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta

Prep Time

25 mins

Cook Time

25 mins

Course: Main Course

Keyword: pasta

Servings: 6

Ingredients

1 lb. chicken breasts boneless, skinless, cooked and cut into 1 inch cubes
1 1/2 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning
1 red bell pepper sliced
1 yellow bell pepper sliced
1 purple onion halved and thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic minced
4 cups chicken broth
19 oz diced tomatoes with spicy red pepper
1/4 cup heavy cream
4 oz cream cheese
1 Tbsp. parsley
salt and pepper

For Day of Cooking:

4 cups penne pasta uncooked

Instructions

Assembly Instructions:

Combine the cooked chicken with the Cajun seasoning, bell peppers, onion, garlic, chicken broth, tomatoes, heavy cream, cream cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper in a large freezer bag. Squish together.
Remove excess air, seal, and freeze.

Cooking instructions:

Thaw.
Pour the contents of the bag into a large skillet. Bring the liquid to a boil, then add the uncooked penne pasta. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the pasta is tender, which should take around 15 minutes.
Top with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes before serving if desired.

Baked Manicotti Freezer Meal

By Sharla

Baked pasta dishes are always a hit with the family, which means they’re great for adding to your weeknight meal plan. With the help of this easy baked manicotti recipe, you can prep your pasta dinner ahead of time and freeze it until you’re ready to start cooking. Your family will love these cheesy stuffed noodles covered in sauce, and you’ll love how simple this no boil dish is to prepare!To make this dish into individual freezer meals, divide it among smaller foil containers. It is a great one for making as a freezer meal for one.

We also enjoy this Mexican Manicotti Bake recipe for a bit of a change. It’s packed full of flavour.

Baked Manicotti Recipe

Ingredients:

3 cups cottage cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 (8 ounce) box manicotti, uncooked
6 cups pasta sauce

Assembly Instructions:

Start by spreading one cup of pasta sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 pan.
In a large bowl, mix the cottage cheese, egg, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Using a piping bag, a spoon, or your fingers, stuff the cheese filling mixture into the center of the manicotti shells.
Place stuffed manicotti on top of the pasta sauce that’s in the pan. Then pour the remaining sauce over the top of the pasta.
Wrap the entire pan in plastic wrap and top the pan with foil. Label the pan and place it in the freezer until you’re ready to bake.
Be sure to write a reminder to remove the plastic wrap before baking.

Cooking Instructions:

Transfer the pan to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the foil and plastic wrap from the pan and replace the foil. Bake for 45 minutes.
The dish can also be baked from frozen if you increase cooking time to 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Remove the foil from the pan and continue baking until noodles are tender.

Is it Better to Freeze Manicotti Before or After Cooking?

Preparing pasta for freezer cooking can sometimes be confusing. While some pasta dishes require that you cook the noodles before freezing the dish, others don’t need to be boiled or baked before freezing. So how do you know whether you should cook the manicotti noodles before stuffing and freezing them?

The best way to figure out if your pasta needs to be cooked before freezing is to check the box. If you use no boil manicotti noodles, there is no need to pre-cook the pasta before placing the stuffed shells in the freezer. All you have to do is make sure the pasta is fully covered in sauce and they’ll soften as they bake in the oven.

But if your pasta is not no boil, you will need to prepare the noodles before you freeze them. No boil manicotti should be boiled until they are al dente. After that, allow the pasta to cool until it’s safe to touch and add the cheese filling before freezing your pasta dish.

How Long Does Manicotti Stay Fresh in the Fridge?

After your family enjoys your baked manicotti, you might have a few leftovers when dinner is over. Any leftover pasta should be stored in the refrigerator. You can cover the pan with plastic wrap and store it directly in the fridge. Or transfer the leftover pasta to an airtight container. When stored properly, your pasta will stay fresh for up to four days.

What is the Best Way to Reheat Manicotti?

When you’re ready to enjoy your leftover pasta, there are a couple of different ways you can reheat it. The best way to warm up your manicotti is to bake it in the oven. Place your leftover pasta in an oven-safe dish and cook it at 350° for 10 to 15 minutes, until the pasta is heated and the cheese is melted.

You can also reheat the leftover manicotti in the microwave. Heat the pasta for around one minute and check the temperature of the filling. If the center is still cold, return the pasta to the microwave and cook for an additional 30 seconds.

Baked Manicotti Recipe Variation Ideas:

This quick and easy vegetarian lasagna is a great option for a meatless meal. But you can easily adjust the recipe to create a delicious dinner for your family with these simple additions.

Use a meat sauce. If your family prefers to have meat with their pasta, you can easily add cooked ground beef or Italian sausage to the pasta sauce. Simply stir one pound of prepared meat into the sauce before adding it to the pan.
Mix in some spinach. An easy way to add flavor and veggies to your pasta dinner is by mixing some spinach leaves into your cheese filling. You can use fresh or frozen spinach, depending on what you have on hand. If you plan to use frozen spinach, make sure to allow the vegetables to defrost before mixing them into the filling.
Boil the pasta. To help speed up the prep work on this baked pasta dish, try using no boil pasta. But if you can’t find that type of pasta in your grocery store, traditional manicotti noodles will work, too. To prepare this baked pasta dish with traditional noodles, make sure to boil the pasta before adding the filling. You’ll want to cook it to slightly underdone so that when reheating, the noodles don’t get mushy.

Baked Manicotti

Ingredients

3 cups cottage cheese
1 egg lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese shredded
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp nutmeg
8 oz manicotti uncooked
6 cups pasta sauce

Instructions

Assembly Instructions:

Spread one cup of pasta sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 pan.
In a large bowl, mix the cottage cheese, egg, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Using a piping bag, a spoon, or your fingers, stuff the cheese filling mixture into the manicotti shells.
Place stuffed manicotti on top of the pasta sauce in the pan. Pour the remaining sauce over the top of the pasta.
Wrap the entire pan in plastic wrap and top the pan with foil. Label the pan and place it in the freezer until you’re ready to bake.

Cooking Instructions:

Thaw.
Preheat the oven to 350°. Remove the foil and plastic wrap from the pan and replace the foil. Bake for 45 minutes.
The dish can also be baked from frozen if you increase cooking time to 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Remove the foil from the pan and continue baking until noodles are tender.

Chicken in Mango Cream Sauce Over Pasta

By Sharla

This is one of my favourites. I’ve been making Chicken in Mango Cream Sauce over Pasta for years. Now that I mainly only make freezer meals, I was missing its flavours, so I adapted the recipe into a freezer meal. I wasn’t sure if it would be as good once frozen and heated, but it’s amazing! It’s one of those recipes where the kids squeal when they find out we’re having it.

I am going to put myself out there and admit something. On the very rare occasions that there are leftovers of this, I hide them. I’m not proud of it, but it’s true. I hide them in a container in the far back of the fridge.

It tastes so good the next day heated up with some chili flakes and asiago cheese on top. Yum!The fact that I have to hide in the bathroom to eat it so that I don’t have to share only slightly detracts from the experience!

Chicken in Mango Cream Sauce Recipe:

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
1/2 purple onion, sliced thinly
1/2 green pepper, sliced
2 tsp. garlic, minced
1 heaping Tbsp. Madras curry paste
2 Tbsp. flour
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup mango tangerine juice
1 cup evaporated milk
1 Tbsp. mango chutney
1 tsp. red chilies

For serving:

spaghetti or other long noodle pasta
red pepper flakes (optional)
Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)

To cook the chicken, I like to use the oven. I make many freezer meals at once, so this is the most efficient way. Put the chicken breasts in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 50 minutes at 350° before cubing.

Place the cooked, cubed chicken, onions, garlic, peppers, flour, and curry paste into a large, resealable freezer bag. Give it a good shake to coat the chicken and veggies with flour and curry paste. Add the chicken broth, juice, evaporated milk, chutney, and red chili flakes. Squish together to combine. Remove the excess air from the bag, seal, and freeze.

To cook, take the bag out of the freezer to thaw. Reheat the sauce in a large skillet or in the microwave. Serve over long noodles such as spaghetti. If desired, top your chicken in mango cream sauce pasta with more chili flakes and grated Parmesan or asiago cheese.

You can find similar make-ahead recipes ready in a splash in our Dinner in 20 Freezer Meal Plan. It includes everything you need: shopping lists, prep lists, recipes, and printable labels.

Other freezer meals you may enjoy:

Spinach and Chicken Penne Alfredo Casserole Beefy Rice Crock Pot Casserole

Chicken in Mango Cream Sauce Recipe

Course: Main Course

Keyword: chicken, freezer meal

Servings: 6

Calories: 208 kcal

Ingredients

3 chicken breasts boneless, skinless, cooked and cubed
1/2 purple onion sliced thinly
1/2 green pepper sliced
2 tsp. garlic minced
1 heaping Tbsp. Madras curry paste
2 Tbsp. flour
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup mango tangerine juice
1 cup evaporated milk
1 Tbsp. mango chutney
1 tsp. red chilies

For serving:

spaghetti or other long noodle pasta

Instructions

Put the chicken breasts in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 50 minutes at 350° before cubing.
Place the cooked, cubed chicken, onions, garlic, peppers, flour, and curry paste into a large, resealable freezer bag. Give it a good shake to coat the chicken and veggies with flour and curry paste.
Add the chicken broth, juice, evaporated milk, chutney, and red chili flakes. Squish together to combine. Remove the excess air from the bag, seal, and freeze.
To cook, take the bag out of the freezer to thaw. Reheat the sauce in a large skillet or in the microwave. Serve over long noodles such as spaghetti.

Recipe Notes

If desired, top with more chili flakes and grated Parmesan or asiago cheese.

Spinach and Sausage Pasta Bake

By Sharla

Pasta dinners are always a hit with my family. And since noodle dishes are always easy to freeze, they’re perfect for meal prep! This flavorful Italian sausage pasta bake makes the perfect freezer friendly dinner. It’s a delicious dinner that’s perfect for a busy weeknight meal. And since it’s made with veggies, it’s also a healthy one pot meal that’s sure to be a hit with everyone in the family.Our family loves our pasta meals! This one has a nice contrast of flavours with the sausage, spinach, and tomatoes. If you’re also a pasta fan, you may also enjoy our Alfredo Tortellini Bake, Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Bake, and Johnny Marzetti Casserole.

Italian Sausage Pasta Bake Recipe

Ingredients:

12 oz. bow tie pasta
1 pound ground Italian sausage
1/2 cup diced onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
28 ounce can Italian style plum tomatoes, drained
1 1/2 cups whipping cream or heavy cream
1 cup spinach leaves, sliced into strips

Freezing instructions:

Cook pasta according to the package directions in a large pot of boiling water. Drain the water from the pasta and rinse under cold water. Set the pan aside.
Brown the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. When the meat is cooked through, drain the fat from the pan and remove the pan from heat.
Allow the sausage to cool slightly, then transfer it to a large freezer bag.
Add the onion, garlic, tomatoes, cream, and spinach to the bag. Use your fingers to squish the ingredients inside the bag to break the tomatoes into smaller pieces and combine the sauce ingredients.
Add the cooked pasta, then seal the bag and shake to combine.
Open the corner of the bag to release the excess air. Reseal and freeze.

Serving instructions:

Thaw the pasta in the refrigerator.
When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Transfer the thawed pasta to the casserole dish and cover the pan with foil.
Bake for 40 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly.

Is Pasta Freezer Friendly?

The trick to freezing pasta is cooking it slightly under what is called for in the package directions so that it doesn’t get mushy when you reheat it. You can easily freeze cooked pasta and reheat it in the oven for a delicious dinner any night of the week.

When you’re freezing pasta for dinner, there are two methods for storing your noodles in the freezer:

Freezer bags. Using freezer bags to store your pasta is great for saving space in your freezer. Simply add your cooked pasta and sauce to the bag, remove excess air from inside the bag, and flatten it before placing it in the freezer.
Casserole dish. If you’re making a freezer pasta bake, you might want to store your prepared dinner in a dish for easier cooking. After preparing your pasta bake ingredients, just transfer everything to a freezer-friendly dish and store it in the freezer. When you’re ready to cook, transfer the dish to the refrigerator to thaw and bake according to the recipe instructions.

Should I Use Spicy or Sweet Sausage?

There are a variety of different sausage flavors to choose from, which means you can easily create a customized pasta bake for your family depending how spicy they like their dinner! You can use spicy sausage in this pasta dish to add a kick of spice to your meal. Or use sweet sausage if your family doesn’t like too much spice. You can even use a combination of the two sausage varieties for even more flavor!

Italian Sausage Pasta Bake

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

40 mins

Course: Main Course

Keyword: pasta

Servings: 6

Ingredients

12 oz. bow tie pasta
1 pound ground Italian sausage browned
1/2 cup onion diced
3 cloves garlic minced
28 ounce can Italian style plum tomatoes drained
1 1/2 cups whipping cream or heavy cream
1 cup spinach leaves sliced into strips

Instructions

Assembly Instructions:

Cook pasta according to the package directions in a large pot of boiling water. Drain the water from the pasta and set the pan aside to cool.
Brown the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. When the meat is cooked through, drain the fat from the pan and remove the pan from heat.
Allow the sausage to cool slightly, then transfer it to a large freezer bag.
Add the onion, garlic, tomatoes, cream, and spinach to the bag. Use your fingers to squish the ingredients inside the bag to break the tomatoes into smaller pieces and combine the sauce ingredients.
Add the cooked pasta, then seal the bag and shake to combine.
Open the corner of the bag to release the excess air. Reseal and freeze.

Cooking Instructions:

Thaw.
Transfer the thawed pasta to a greased casserole dish and cover the pan with foil.
Bake at 350° for 40 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly.

Layered Ravioli Bake

By Sharla

There’s nothing better than a dish of hot lasagna for dinner. But if you’re short on time, there’s no reason you have to slave over a stovetop cooking pasta and layering it in a baking dish. With the help of this quick and easy layered ravioli bake, you can enjoy all the flavors of lasagna without all the hard work. And since this casserole is freezer-friendly, you can prepare your dinner ahead of time and thaw it out when you’re ready to cook dinner.We are big fans of pasta bakes in our house. We like to change it up from time to time such as with our Alfredo Tortellini Bake, Pastitcio, or Johnny Marzetti Casserole.

Layered Ravioli Bake Recipe

Ingredients:

16 oz. fresh or frozen ravioli with the filling of your choice
24 oz. jarred or homemade pasta sauce
8 oz. frozen chopped spinach
15 oz. ricotta cheese
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Freezing instructions:

In a medium sized bowl, mix together the ricotta, frozen chopped spinach, and Italian seasoning.
Spread a very thin layer of pasta sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish or 9×13 aluminum tray.
Lay out roughly half of the ravioli in a single layer over the top of the pasta sauce.
Pour half of the sauce over the top of the ravioli, making sure to fully cover the pasta.
Layer half the ricotta mixture.
Then, top the sauce with one cup of the mozzarella cheese.
Layer the remaining ravioli on top of the shredded cheese, then pour on the rest of the pasta sauce and remaining ricotta mixture.
Add the rest of the shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Finish by sprinkling the Parmesan cheese all over the top of the casserole.
Place a layer of plastic wrap directly on top of the casserole, then cover the entire pan with foil. Freeze the pan until you’re ready to bake.

Serving instructions:

Thaw the ravioli lasagna in the refrigerator.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Remove the foil and take off the plastic wrap, then replace the foil.
Bake covered for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and bake an additional 20-25 minutes uncovered until bubbling.
Let the casserole stand for a few minutes before serving.

You can also choose to bake this dish right from frozen at 375° for an hour and a half.

Can You Bake Frozen Ravioli Instead of Boiling?

While the instructions on the back of your frozen ravioli package may suggest that the pasta be boiled, there’s no reason you can’t bake your ravioli instead. They key to ensuring your pasta gets tender as it bakes is making sure that it’s fully coated in sauce. The pasta uses the moisture in your sauce to cook, allowing you to bake your ravioli without the need for water at all.

As you’re layering your ravioli in your baking dish, make sure each piece is fully coated in sauce. If you notice part of the pasta is sticking up out of the sauce, use the back of your spoon to lightly press it back down to ensure it properly bakes.

Ravioli Lasagna Recipe Tips & Tricks

This quick and easy casserole is perfect for freezer cooking. And since it’s so simple to make, it’s just as simple to customize. Try these ravioli lasagna recipe ideas as you’re putting together your meal plan.

Try different ravioli. One of the simplest ways to change up this recipe is to try different ravioli flavors. Use cheese or beef ravioli for a more traditional lasagna. Or mix in unique ravioli options, like spinach, chicken, or lobster, for a different casserole every time you make this easy recipe.
Add some ground beef. Add even more flavor and a little bit of extra protein to your casserole with the help of ground beef. Cook the beef in a skillet until it’s brown, then mix it into your tomato sauce. After that, you can follow the recipe as written to make a meaty ravioli bake.
Omit the spinach. If you’re not a fan of leafy greens, just leave out the spinach.
Swap tomato sauce for Alfredo. Give your ravioli bake a creamy texture and flavor with the help of alfredo sauce. Simply swap traditional tomato sauce with Alfredo sauce for a totally new ravioli bake flavor. You can even try using Alfredo and red pasta sauce mixed together to create a Rosé sauce.
Season with fresh herbs. Another simple way to add tons of flavor to your lasagna casserole is with the help of fresh herbs. Mix some chopped parsley, oregano, or basil into the sauce in place of the Italian seasoning before you add it to your casserole to enhance the flavors in your marinara sauce. And when you’re ready to serve your casserole, sprinkle fresh herbs over the top for even more flavor.

What Should I Serve with Ravioli Lasagna?

Since this easy freezer casserole has all the flavors of traditional lasagna, there are a variety of easy sides you can serve with your ravioli bake! Try these simple side dish recipes the next time you prepare this lazy lasagna for your family:

chopped salad with Italian dressing
Caesar salad
breadsticks
toasted garlic bread
steamed vegetables
roasted broccoli and cauliflower

Layered Ravioli Bake

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

45 mins

Course: Main Course

Keyword: pasta

Servings: 6

Ingredients

16 oz. ravioli fresh or frozen with your choice of filling
24 oz. pasta sauce
8 oz. spinach frozen, chopped
15 oz. ricotta cheese
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese shredded

Instructions

Assembly instructions:

In a medium sized bowl, mix together the ricotta, frozen chopped spinach, and Italian seasoning.
Spread a very thin layer of pasta sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish or 9x13 aluminum tray.
Lay out roughly half of the ravioli in a single layer over the top of the pasta sauce.
Pour half of the sauce over the top of the ravioli, making sure to fully cover the pasta.
Layer half the ricotta mixture.
Then, top with one cup of the mozzarella cheese.
Layer the remaining ravioli on top of the shredded cheese, then pour on the rest of the pasta sauce and remaining ricotta mixture.
Add the rest of the shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Finish by sprinkling the Parmesan cheese all over the top of the casserole.
Place a layer of plastic wrap directly on top of the casserole, then cover the entire pan with foil.
Freeze.

Cooking instructions:

Thaw.
Preheat the oven to 400°. Remove the foil and take off the plastic wrap, then replace the foil.
Bake covered for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and bake an additional 20-25 minutes uncovered until bubbling.
Let the casserole stand for a few minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes

Alternately, you can bake this dish from frozen at 375° for 1 1/2 hours.