One Pot Cheesy, Saucy Ravioli

Tender ravioli, basking in a veggie-studded tomato sauce under a canopy of mozzarella. There's so much joy in that pan. And the ravioli is cooked right in the satiny sauce, so it absorbs all the flavor... Ready in 20 minutes, you clearly need this dish in your life. 

In my opinion, you can beat a one-pan meal that dishes up all this incredible-ness! The sauce is chunky from onions, carrots and garlic; and it's delightfully herby thanks to oregano and basil. The carrots are such a sweet addition - they're sweetness perfectly balances the acidity of the tomatoes. Plus, it's a dang good way to add vegetables to one-pot meal. 

This uber cheesy dish is made with store-bought, refrigerated ravioli. You can certainly use beef ravioli, or any pasta of choice!

About the pan: I chose a wide, high-sided skillet for this recipe. You can pretty much use any pan, but the wider the better so the ravioli have a chance to spread out and cook evenly.

One Pot Cheesy, Saucy Ravioli

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup minced onion
1/2 cup chopped carrots
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
Salt and ground black pepper
2 cups tomato sauce, from a carton or can
2 cups water, or more as needed
20 ounces ravioli of choice
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Grated parmesan cheese for serving

Heat the oil in a large, high-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots and garlic and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until soft. Add the oregano, basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and stir to coat. Cook for 30 to 60 seconds, until the herbs are fragrant. Add the tomato sauce and water and bring to a simmer. Add the ravioli and return to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes, until the ravioli is tender, stirring frequently and adding more water if necessary (you want the dish to be "saucy"). Season the sauce with salt and pepper.
Top the ravioli with the mozzarella cheese, cover with a lid or foil and remove the pan from the heat. Let stand for 1 minute, until the cheese melts. Serve with grated parmesan cheese on the side.
Serves 4