Cheesy Baked Tortellini with Green Bean Fries: A <$11, Weeknight Family Dinner

This Cheesy Baked Tortellini paired with Green Bean Fries is a weeknight dinner that borrows the flavor profile of lasagna or spaghetti bakes but with less assembly. The recipe serves 6–8, costs $10.45 for the full menu as presented, and cooks in under an hour including bake time.

Short ingredient list and a simple workflow: brown the meat and garlic, cook tortellini al dente, combine with sauce and half the cheese, then bake. While the pasta bakes, the green beans roast on a separate sheet, so you use oven time efficiently. The end result is a melty, family-friendly main and a crisp-tender vegetable side that appeals even to reluctant veggie eaters.

Concrete ingredients and cost (as used in the recipe)

• 1 lb ground meat (ground chicken used in the example) — $1
• 4–5 garlic cloves — $0.15
• 2 (12-oz) bags tortellini — $0 (free in the example due to a B1G1 sale + rebates)
• 24-oz jar marinara — $1.47
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning, salt to taste
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella (divided) — $2.47
• 1/4 cup Parmesan — $0.40
• 2 lb green beans (two 1-lb bags) — $4.70
• Olive oil, salt, extra Parmesan for green beans

Total listed: $10.45 (serves up to 8)

1. 1Preheat oven to 350°F. Start a pot of salted water for the tortellini. Preheat lets the pasta and oven-ready sides finish around the same time.
2. 2Brown 1 lb ground meat with chopped garlic in a skillet. Stir in marinara, Italian seasoning, and salt.
3. 3Cook tortellini until al dente. Drain and mix with the meat/sauce and half the mozzarella. Transfer to a 9x13 pan.

1. 1For the green beans: spread trimmed, washed beans on a parchment-lined sheet, drizzle with olive oil, salt, and a sprinkle of Parmesan. Bake with the tortellini for about 30 minutes. When the pasta is done, increase oven to 450°F and continue roasting the beans 10 more minutes until tender and starting to brown. Use the broiler briefly if you want them crispier.

• Use pre-shredded cheese to save prep time. Reserve half for the filling and half for topping.
• If tortellini isn't free or on sale, substitute another short pasta but keep the volume similar (two 12-oz bags in the example).

• Fresh herbs like rosemary can be used as a garnish if available.

• Swap ground chicken for ground beef, turkey, or a plant-based crumble depending on preference and budget.
• Add a layer of ricotta or cottage cheese for a creamier bake, but factor in extra cost.

This is an adaptable, low-cost comfort-dinner that pairs a cheesy, baked pasta with a sheet-pan veggie side. It's designed for minimal fuss, family-friendly flavors, and efficient use of oven time.