Description
Beef and Cheese Manicotti is a comforting Italian dish featuring tender pasta tubes filled with a savory mixture of ground beef, ricotta, and mozzarella, all baked in rich marinara sauce. With its creamy texture and irresistible aroma, this recipe is perfect for family gatherings or cozy weeknight dinners. Each bite offers an explosion of flavor that will leave everyone asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 manicotti pasta shells
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves (for garnish)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and spray a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cook manicotti shells in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat; drain excess fat. Stir in ricotta, half of the mozzarella, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Stuff each shell with the beef-cheese mixture and arrange them upright in the baking dish.
- Cover filled shells with marinara sauce and sprinkle remaining mozzarella on top. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Let cool slightly before serving; garnish with fresh basil.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 manicotti (120g)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 50mg