Authentic Italian Manicotti + Video
This authentic Italian manicotti recipe is easy to assemble and full of classic flavors. Make this comfort food meal in just under an hour!
Ingredients
- 14manicotti pasta shells ((8 ounce package))
- 3 cupsspaghetti 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 cupsmozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 1 cupparmesan cheese (grated)
- ¼ cupfresh 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.