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Manicotti Meat Sauce Perfection The Ultimate Comfort Food Recipe - Featured Image

Manicotti Meat Sauce Perfection The Ultimate Comfort Food Recipe

Learn how to make delicious Manicotti Meat Sauce Perfection. Easy recipe with step-by-step instructions.

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

  • 12 manicotti pasta shells (pre-cooked according to package instructions)
  • 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey for a leaner option)
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
  • 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tablespoon dried parsley)
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Olive oil for sautéing

Substitution suggestions: For a vegetarian twist, swap the ground beef for sautéed mushrooms and lentils. Use cottage cheese if ricotta isn’t your favorite, but keep it drained to avoid watery filling. And if you want to keep it dairy-free, vegan cheese and a flax egg work well too, though the flavor and texture will shift a bit.

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
  2. Cook the manicotti shells according to package directions until just al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Set aside on a lightly oiled baking sheet to prevent sticking.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another minute until fragrant.
  4. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Break it up with a spoon and cook until browned and no longer pink, about 7-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat if needed.
  5. Pour in 2 cups of the marinara sauce, stir, and let it simmer gently for 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Remove from heat.
  6. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, ¼ cup Parmesan, egg, and parsley. Season lightly with salt and pepper. This is your creamy filling.
  7. Carefully stuff each manicotti shell with the cheese mixture. I find using a small spoon or piping bag makes this less messy (a tip I picked up after many happy but chaotic kitchen experiments!).
  8. Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Arrange the stuffed manicotti shells in a single layer on top.
  9. Pour the remaining marinara sauce evenly over the shells. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses on top.
  10. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
  11. Let the manicotti rest for about 10 minutes before serving. This helps everything set and makes serving easier, especially when feeding little hands that can’t wait!

  • Author: Jenny
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Cooking
  • Cuisine: International

Keywords: Manicotti Meat Sauce Perfection, recipe, cooking, food