Beefy Manicotti Recipes

GROUND BEEF STUFFED MANICOTTI

Steps:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
• Add the onion and cook until it softens and is translucent, 5-8 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, another 30-60 seconds.
• Add the celery and carrot along with the salt and pepper and continue to cook until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, sugar and bay leaf. Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered breaking up the tomatoes as the sauce cooks.
• Cook until the sauce thickens, about 1 hour. Remove from the heat and discard the bay leaf.
• Cool the sauce slightly, then transfer the sauce to a blender (work in batches, if needed) and process until smooth.
• Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Spread 3/4 cup of the prepared sauce in the bottom of the dish. Set aside.
• Place a skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef and onion. Cook, breaking up the meat as it cooks, until the meat is browned and the onion is soft. Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly.
• While the beef is cooling, mix the ricotta, one cup of the Mozzarella, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, the parsley, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl. When the beef mixture has cooled slightly stir it into the cheese mixture.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt generously. Add the manicotti and cook until it is softened, but still firm to the bite, about 6 minutes. Remove the manicotti from the water and transfer to a baking sheet to cool off.
• Transfer the meat and cheese mixture to a large ziplock bag. Cut off the corner. Squeeze the mixture into the manicotti and place the stuffed pasta in the baking dish in a single layer. Spread the remaining sauce over the top of the pasta. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of Mozzarella and 1/4 cup of Parmesan over the top. Dot with the butter pieces.
• Bake the manicotti, uncovered, until it is heated through and the sauce is bubbling and hot, about 35 minutes.
• Let the manicotti sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.

CHEESY GROUND BEEF MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook and drain manicotti as directed on package using minimum cooking time (cooking for the minimum time helps prevent the shells from tearing while filling).
• Meanwhile, in 10-inch skillet, cook beef, onion and garlic over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in pasta sauce.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• Squeeze thawed spinach to drain; spread on paper towels and pat dry. In medium bowl, mix spinach, cottage cheese, mushrooms, 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, the nutmeg and pepper.
• In baking dish, spread 1 cup of the beef mixture. Fill manicotti shells with spinach mixture. Place shells on beef mixture in dish. Pour remaining beef mixture evenly over shells, covering shells completely. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese.
• Cover and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 20 to 25 minutes longer or until hot and bubbly.

BEEFY MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Crumble ground beef in skillet and brown gradually over medium heat. Drain and add to 1 jar of spaghetti sauce and set aside.
• Place manicotti noodles in large stockpot of boiling water. Boil until tender and remove from hot water and gently place into cold water until firm. Dry noodles on paper towel. Combine ricotta, 4 cups of mozzarella and basil in large bowl.
• Add 2 cups of spaghetti sauce to the bottom of 9x12 baking dish. To make filling shells easier, just split up the side, fill with cheese mixture, close and lay split side on bottom of pan. Continue until all shells are filled. Top with spaghetti sauce with ground beef until all shells are thoroughly covered. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
• Place in preheated 350 degrees F oven for approximately 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cover with 2 cups Kraft Shredded Mozzarella Cheese and return to oven. Bake for 15 minutes more, or until mozzarella is nicely golden brown.

BEEF STUFFED MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook manicotti according to package directions; drain. In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the tomato sauce, oregano and thyme; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Add 1/2 cup cheese; stir until melted., Stuff half meat mixture into manicotti shells; arrange in a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Spoon remaining meat mixture over shells. , Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until heated through and cheese is melted.