Cheesy Ground Beef Manicotti

Cheesy Ground Beef Manicotti

from thehungrybluebird.com
60 min
6 servings

Beef and cheese manicotti stuffed with ground beef and three cheeses, an easy to make cozy and comforting dinner sure to please the whole family.

Ingredients

  • olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, medium-fine dice (about 1 cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound ground beef (I like ground sirloin)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 (8-ounce) package manicotti, 14 pasta tubes
  • 1 (15-ounce) container whole-milk ricotta
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella, divided
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan, divided (preferably Parmigiano Reggiano )
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
  • 3 cups marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
  • 2 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces

Directions

  1. 1

    Prepare ground beef mixture. Heat skillet over medium heat with a drizzle of olive oil. Add onion, garlic and ground beef and season with a little salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up ground beef, until onion is translucent and beef is crumbled and browned and cooked through, about 7-8 minutes. Set aside to cool.

  2. 2

    Cook manicotti. Drizzle a little olive oil all over a large baking sheet to prevent sticking. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook pasta tubes until softened but still firm, about 6 minutes. Remove to oiled baking sheet to cool.

  3. 3

    Prepare filling. Combine ricotta, 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese, ½ cup grated Parmesan and parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste and mix well. Stir the cooled meat mixture into the cheese mixture and combine well.

  4. 4

    Preheat oven to 350º.

  5. 5

    Drizzle a couple more teaspoons of olive oil into bottom of 9" by 13" glass baking dish. Spread 1½ cups marinara over bottom of prepared dish. Fill the manicotti tubes with the cheese-meat mixture and arrange the stuffed pasta in one layer in the prepared dish. Spoon the remaining 1½ cups marinara over the top.

  6. 6

    Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup shredded mozzarella, then the remaining ½ cup of Parmesan and then dot the entire dish with the butter pieces. Bake the manicotti uncovered until heated through and bubbly, about 35 minutes. Let dish rest for 5 minutes or so and serve. Enjoy!