### Instructions
1. **Preheat & Prep:** Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
2. **Brown the Meat:** In a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef (or sausage) over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain off any excess fat.
3. **Sauté Aromatics:** Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the beef and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
4. **Simmer the Sauce:** Pour in the marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, and water. Stir in the oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes (if using). Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it gently simmer for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. **Prepare Ricotta Mixture:** In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley. Mix well until everything is incorporated.
6. **Assemble the Bake:**
* Spread about 1 cup of the meat sauce evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
* Arrange half of the frozen ravioli in a single layer over the sauce.
* Dollop spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture over the ravioli.
* Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the ricotta.
* Pour half of the remaining meat sauce over the mozzarella layer.
* Repeat with the remaining ravioli, then the remaining meat sauce.
* Top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
7. **Bake:** Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
8. **Golden Finish:** Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden brown.
9. **Rest & Serve:** Let the Million-Dollar Ravioli Bake rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the pasta to set and makes for easier serving. Garnish with extra fresh parsley if desired.
### Short Tips
* **Don’t thaw the ravioli!** Using them frozen helps prevent them from getting mushy during baking.
* **Make ahead:** Assemble the entire dish, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add an extra 10-15 minutes to the covered baking time if baking from cold.
* **Spice it up:** Add a pinch more red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the meat sauce for an extra kick.
* **Vary the cheese:** Experiment with different shredded cheeses like provolone or an Italian blend for a unique flavor.
* **Vegetarian option:** Omit the ground beef and add sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or zucchini to the marinara sauce for a delicious vegetarian version.
