Authentic Italian Manicotti + Video
Ingredients
- 14manicotti pasta shells)
(8 ounce package
- 3 cspaghetti sauce)
(marinara sauce
- 2 tbspbutter
cut into pieces
- 4 tspolive oil
- 1 mediumonion
diced
- 2garlic cloves
minced
- ½ lbground beef
- ½ lbground pork
- ½ tspkosher salt
- ½ tspblack pepper
- 15 ozwhole milk ricotta cheese
- 3 ½ cmozzarella cheese
shredded
- 1 cparmesan cheese
grated
- ¼ cfresh italian parsley
chopped
- ¼ tspground nutmeg
Directions
- 1
In a skillet over medium heat, add 2 teaspoons of the olive oil, onion, garlic and ground beef and pork. Season with salt and pepper. Brown the meat and the onion, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and cool to mix with cheese filling.
- 2
Cook the manicotti in a large pot of heavily salted boiling water for 6 minutes. Drain and gently toss with a little olive oil to keep from sticking and allow to cool.
- 3
Combine ricotta cheese, 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan, parsley and nutmeg. Mix well and stir the cooled meat mixture into the cheese mixture. Set aside.
- 4
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- 5
Drizzle the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil in a 13x9 baking dish to coat. Spoon 1 1/2 cups of the spaghetti (marinara) sauce over the bottom of the dish.
- 6
Either place all of the meat/cheese mixture in a Ziploc bag and cut off one corner to squeeze filling into shells, OR carefully spoon filling in each manicotti by hand.
- 7
Arrange in a single layer in the prepared dish and spoon the remaining sauce over. Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese and remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan over the stuffed pasta. Divide the butter pieces evenly over top.
- 8
Bake the manicotti, uncovered, for about 30 to 35 minutes. Let the manicotti stand 5 minutes before serving.
Authentic Italian Manicotti + Video
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Based on 7 ratings
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About this Recipe
Craving a deeply satisfying, classic Italian dinner that brings everyone to the table? This Authentic Italian Manicotti recipe delivers rich, comforting flavors without keeping you in the kitchen all day. It's an easy-to-assemble comfort food meal that's perfect for any occasion.
What makes this baked pasta dish truly special is its blend of savory ground beef and pork, combined with a luxurious three-cheese filling—whole milk ricotta, shredded mozzarella, and grated Parmesan—all enveloped in tender manicotti shells and baked in classic marinara. It’s designed to be straightforward to assemble, making authentic Italian comfort food accessible for any weeknight or special occasion with its full-bodied, classic flavors.
You'll experience a symphony of textures and tastes with every forkful of this hearty manicotti. Imagine perfectly al dente pasta cradling a creamy, seasoned filling of ricotta, gooey mozzarella, and sharp Parmesan, all balanced by the robust, savory notes of seasoned ground beef and pork. The dish is simmered in a rich spaghetti sauce, creating a beautifully integrated flavor that’s both familiar and deeply satisfying. This is a substantial dinner, yielding 6 generous servings of pure Italian comfort.
While the combination of ground beef and pork provides a rich depth, you can adjust the balance of these meats to suit your preference while maintaining the total quantity. For the cheese filling, feel free to experiment with different proportions of mozzarella and parmesan to achieve your ideal balance of meltiness and sharp, salty notes, though the specific blend in this recipe is truly classic.
This classic Italian manicotti is the quintessential family dinner, perfect for Sunday supper or a comforting meal any day of the week. Serve it hot with a simple green salad and crusty bread to soak up every last drop of the delicious sauce.