What Meat Goes with Cheese Ravioli? (11 Best Meats)

Hey, knowing what meat goes with cheese ravioli is important.

Why?

Because cheese ravioli is delicious.

And when you pair it with the right kind of meat, it’s even better.

Some of the best types of meat to pair with cheese ravioli are chicken, shrimp, and Italian sausage. You can also go for a more classic pairing like beef or pork. If you want something more unique, you can try lamb or duck.

So, whether you’re looking for a classic combo or something a little more adventurous, read on for my top 11 picks.

What Meat Goes with Cheese Ravioli

11 Best Kinds of Meat For Cheese Ravioli

Before you decide to just go with ground beef (I see you, hamburger helper), hear me out.

Because there are so many delicious options for filling your cheese ravioli.

Here are 11 of the best kinds of meat for cheese ravioli:

1. Chicken

Chicken Meat

Chicken is one of America’s most popular types of meat, and for good reason – it’s versatile, affordable, and generally well-liked by most people.

It pairs particularly well with cheese ravioli, as the two classic comfort foods complement each other nicely.

There are a number of different ways to prepare chicken with cheese ravioli, but some of our favorites include baking it in the oven with a creamy sauce, pan-frying it until it’s crispy, or simmering it in a flavorful broth.

Pro Tip: If you’re short on time, you can always use pre-cooked chicken from the grocery store.

Just be sure to add it near the end of the cooking process so that it doesn’t dry out.

2. Ground Beef

Ground Beef

Although I did say that ground beef is the easy option, it’s still super delicious when done right.

  1. One of my favourite ways to make a cheese ravioli dish is by browning the beef and then adding a jar of tomato sauce, some garlic and Italian seasoning.
  2. Then, I’ll just boil the ravioli and mix it all together.
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If you’re feeling fancy, you can also make a cream sauce from scratch to top it off.

Pro Tip: If you’re using ground beef that’s on the leaner side, be sure to drain any excess fat after cooking.

3. Bacon Bits

Bacon Bits

Bacon, bacon, bacon.

Is there anything it can’t make better?

In my opinion, no.

But especially when it comes to cheese ravioli.

The saltiness of the bacon pairs perfectly with the rich, creamy filling in the ravioli.

You can cook the bacon bits right along with the ravioli, or you can fry them up and sprinkle them on top.

Pro Tip: If you’re feeling extra indulgent, top your dish with some crispy fried onions for an added crunch.

4. Sausage

Sausage

Smoked sausage, spicy sausage, herbed sausage… there are so many delicious options when it comes to sausage.

And, in my opinion, they all go well with cheese ravioli.

  1. I like to cook my sausage on the stovetop with a little olive oil until it’s nice and crispy.
  2. Then, I add in the ravioli and some sauce (homemade or jarred), and let everything simmer together for a few minutes.

So easy, and so good.

Pro Tip: If you’re using jarred sauce, try to find one that has chunks of vegetables or meat in it.

This will help elevate your dish and make it taste more homemade.

5. Ham

Ham

Ham is easy to work it into a cheese ravioli dish because it is mostly already cooked and just needs to be reheated.

You could heat up some sliced ham and put it on top of your cheese ravioli, or you could mix it into the sauce.

If you want to get really creative, you could even make a Ham and Cheese Ravioli Bake by layering ham and cheese ravioli in a casserole dish with sauce and mozzarella cheese.

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Pro Tip: If you are using pre-packaged ravioli, cook according to package instructions before adding any additional ingredients.

6. Turkey

Turkey

Turkey is similar to chicken in some ways, but has a gamey flavor that I think pairs really well with cheese ravioli.

You could do a basic turkey and cheese ravioli bake, or get a little creative with it.

One of my favorite things to do is make a Thanksgiving-style dish with sage and onion stuffing, green beans, and of course, cranberry sauce.

Pro Tip: If you want to make your own ravioli, turkey would be a great filling! Just mix some chopped up turkey with some shredded cheese, salt, and pepper.

7. Lamb

Lamb

If you’re feeling fancy, give lamb a try with your cheese ravioli.

It’s a bit of an unconventional pairing, but the two flavors really complement each other well.

You can either pan-fry or oven-bake the lamb, and top it with a simple tomato sauce or some pesto.

Pro Tip: If you’re pan frying the lamb, be sure to cook it on medium-high heat so that it gets a nice sear on the outside without overcooking the inside.

8. Pork

Pork is very versatile and pairs well with cheese ravioli.

You can brown pork chops and serve them over the ravioli, or cut the pork into small cubes and add it to the sauce.

If you want to get really creative, you can even stuff the ravioli with pork!

Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a leaner option, go for pork tenderloin.

9. Salmon

Salmon

Salmon is healthy, rich, and fatty- in other words, it’s the perfect candidate for a cheesy ravioli dish.

There are tons of different ways that you can cook salmon, but my personal favourite is to pan fry it.

This gives the skin a nice crispy texture, while the inside stays soft and flaky.

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Another great option is to bake the salmon with some lemon and dill- this brightens up the dish and keeps it from feeling too heavy.

10. Shrimp

Shrimp

Shrimp is one of the most versatile meats out there.

It goes well with so many different flavors and dishes.

In this case, shrimp pairs perfectly with cheese ravioli.

You could simply sautee the shrimp and top the ravioli with it, or you could get a little more creative and make a shrimp scampi to top the dish with.

Pro Tip: If you’re looking for an easy way to cook shrimp, try this method: season the shrimp with salt, pepper, and Old Bay seasoning.

Then, cook in a hot pan with butter for 2-3 minutes per side.

11. Crabmeat

Crab meat

I like using canned crabmeat for this dish because it’s easy and the meat is already cooked.

You can find canned crabmeat in most grocery stores near the canned tuna.

If you want to use fresh crabmeat, you’ll need to cook it before adding it to the ravioli dish.

I usually sauté the crabmeat with a little bit of garlic, salt, and pepper.

Pro Tip: If you’re using canned crabmeat, make sure to drain it well. Otherwise, your dish will be too watery.

what meat goes well with cheese ravioli

What Meat Goes with Cheese Ravioli? (11 Best Meats)

Picking a meat to pair with your cheese ravioli can be a tough decision.
There are so many delicious options out there!
To help you narrow it down, we've compiled a list of the 11 best meats to pair with cheese ravioli.
From classics like chicken and beef to more unique options like lamb and duck, there's sure to be a perfect match for your next meal.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Main Course, Meat, Pasta
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 4 people
Calories 377 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Chicken
  • Ground Beef
  • Bacon Bits
  • Sausage
  • Ham
  • Turkey
  • Lamb
  • Pork
  • Salmon
  • Shrimp
  • Crab meat

Instructions
 

  • Pick your favorite type of meat from this post to serve with your cheese ravioli dish.
  • Prepare the rest of your meal.
  • Enjoy in no time!
Keyword What Meat Goes with Cheese Ravioli