This Easy Meat and Cheese Manicotti Means Business

This Easy Meat and Cheese Manicotti Means Business

Hey all! I know it’s been awhile since I brought you something new to chew on so here we go! Today I’m bringing you another family favorite of ours, meat and cheese manicotti. This is such a stick to your ribs comfort food and we really love how it makes the whole house smell so delicious!

I think manicotti is one of those dishes that can be intimidating to people but it really isn’t complicated. Stick with basic but good ingredients and you won’t be disappointed. Manicotti pasta themselves are a great vessel for all kinds of food variations too. Savory, sweet & every culinary cuisine in between, this pasta is very versatile.

Meat and cheese manicotti can have so many different substitutions that it would be impossible to list them all. Just know this one is our favorite but your are free to sub out and meats, sauces and cheeses. Manicotti means “little sleeves” and that’s exactly what these are. So don’t stop here with just this recipe. get creative with it. Play around with manicotti and see what amazing concoctions you can come up with!

Swaps & Specs:

• The most important thing is DON’T OVERCOOK THE PASTA when you boil it. Since it gets baked we really don’t want to overdo it in the first phase. Try to do it al dente. Plus this will also help with the stuffing process. Can’t stuff ripped tubes.

• Use a pastry bag if you have it and you want to. Leave the tip off and cut it as wide as the tube to enable the meat and tomato chunks to pass through.

• Easily make this a meatless dish by just leaving it out and following the instructions the same.

• This version uses a jar marinara for easy use but it can be substituted for a homemade one. Flavor elevation!

• Use any meat and cheese combination you like. Some examples include: ground beef, turkey or chicken. If you really want to get crazy a slow roasted chuck roast or short rib would be absolutely amazing!

• Serve with a fresh side salad and crusty bread for a complete meal.

Whatever way you choose to make this dish, I hope you and your family enjoy it as much as me and mine do! As always, feel free to drop me a question or comment and i will get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks for everything!

Manicotti

A meat and cheese stuffed pasta shell bathed in marinara sauce and topped with cheese.

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Prep Time 1 hour hr

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Servings 7 people

Calories 478 kcal

Equipment

• large baking dish 13"x 9" or 11"x 15"

Ingredients

  

• 1 box dry manicotti shells
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella divided
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 2 tbsp dried basil
• 1 jar marinara sauce large size (26oz. or more)
• 1 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese divided
• 1 LB mild Italian sausage crumbled and divided
• 1/2 cup onion chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced or pressed

Instructions

 

• Heat oven to 350°. Cook manicotti to package directions, then rinse with cold water to stop cooking process. let sit in cold water. Set aside.
• In a large skillet cook sausage, onions and garlic until cooked thru. Drain. Place 2/3 of meat mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add pasta sauce to pan with remaining meat and heat thru on low. Set aside.
• In the bowl with the meat add, 2 cups mozzarella, 1/2 cup parmesan, basil and ricotta cheese. Mix well. Drain the pasta and try to get as much water off as possible, patting dry with a paper towel if necessary.
• Add a thin layer of sauce to bottom of baking dish to prevent sticking. Using your fingers, stuff the shells until they are full but not busting at the seems. Place in baking dish in single layer.
• Once all the shells are stuffed and the pan is full, pour the rest of the sauce from the pan over the top of the noodles. Top with the rest of the mozzarella. Bake for 25 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown. Sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese and serve.

Notes

• Boil the pasta just under so it won’t be overdone in the oven!
• Use any meat you like: sausage, beef or ground poultry
• Try with a homemade marinara for a super authentic taste

Keyword cheese, italian, manicotti, sausage