The Perfect Beef and Cheese Manicotti Recipe for Pasta Lovers

Mouth-watering beef and cheese manicotti promises a delightful Italian-inspired culinary adventure that will surprise your taste buds.

Pasta tubes packed with savory ingredients create a comforting meal perfect for busy weeknights.

Creamy ricotta blends seamlessly with seasoned ground beef, delivering rich flavors in every single bite.

Marinara sauce adds a tangy complexity that complements the hearty filling inside these tender pasta shells.

Cheese melts beautifully, creating golden-brown edges that make this dish irresistibly appealing.

Kitchen skills of any level can successfully master this classic Italian comfort food.

Beef And Cheese Manicotti That Feels Like A Hug

• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Food: Delivers heartwarming, cheesy goodness that makes everyone at the table happy and satisfied with every single bite.
• Minimal Prep Brilliance: Requires straightforward cooking steps without complicated techniques, allowing even beginner cooks to create a restaurant-quality dish with confidence and ease.
• Versatile Meal Solution: Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, and weekend gatherings where you want to impress without spending hours in the kitchen, offering a delicious one-dish wonder that feeds multiple people.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Can be partially prepared in advance, allowing busy home cooks to assemble the dish earlier and bake when ready, making meal planning and entertaining significantly more convenient.

What’s Filled in Beef Manicotti

• Ground Beef, Ground Pork: Rich, flavorful meats that add depth to the filling with a perfect balance of lean and fatty textures.
• Ricotta Cheese: Creamy base that creates a smooth and luxurious filling with soft protein content.

• Mozzarella Cheese, Parmesan Cheese: Melty and sharp cheeses that provide incredible richness and golden-brown topping with classic Italian flavor profiles.

• Onion, Garlic: Classic flavor builders that add savory depth and aromatic complexity to the meat mixture.
• Parsley: Fresh herb that brings brightness and subtle green notes to the filling.
• Nutmeg: Warm spice that adds a gentle, sophisticated undertone to the cheese mixture.

• Olive Oil: Smooth cooking fat for sautéing and preventing sticking with a light Mediterranean flavor.
• Marinara Sauce: Classic tomato sauce that provides moisture and traditional Italian taste.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasoning agents that enhance and balance all other flavors.

• Manicotti Shells: Large tubular pasta perfect for stuffing with rich fillings, creating a hearty main dish.

Beef and Cheese Manicotti Assembly Instructions

Step 1: Craft Savory Meat Blend

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium flame.

Toss in diced onions and minced garlic, then add ground beef and ground pork.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Sizzle and stir until meat turns golden brown and develops a rich, deep flavor.

Remove from heat and let the mixture cool down completely.

Step 2: Prepare Pasta Shells

Bring a huge pot of salted water to a rolling boil.

Gently slide manicotti shells into the water.

Cook for exactly 6 minutes until they’re flexible but not mushy.

Drain carefully and drizzle with a touch of olive oil to prevent sticking.

Set aside to cool.

Step 3: Create Creamy Cheese Mixture

• Ricotta cheese
• Shredded mozzarella
• Grated Parmesan
• Chopped fresh parsley
• Pinch of nutmeg

Fold in the cooled meat mixture until everything blends smoothly.

Step 4: Assemble Delicious Pasta Bake

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Coat baking dish with olive oil.

Spread marinara sauce across the bottom.

Fill each pasta shell with cheese and meat mixture using a piping bag or spoon.

Arrange shells in a single layer.

Pour remaining sauce over the top.

Generously sprinkle additional mozzarella and Parmesan.

Dot with butter pieces for extra richness.

Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the dish into the oven.

Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes until the top turns golden and edges bubble with cheesy goodness.

Let the manicotti rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle and make cutting easier.

Manicotti Filling & Baking Tips

• Let the ground beef and pork mixture cool completely to prevent the cheese from melting prematurely and losing its creamy texture.
• Slightly undercook the manicotti shells by 1-2 minutes to avoid mushy pasta when baking, as they'll continue cooking in the oven.
• Use a piping bag or sealed plastic bag with a corner cut off for mess-free and even filling of manicotti shells.
• Grate fresh mozzarella and Parmesan for a more flavorful and melty cheese topping compared to pre-shredded varieties.
• Assemble the dish a day ahead and refrigerate, then bake when ready to serve for enhanced flavor melding and convenient meal prep.

Manicotti That Reheats Without Getting Mushy

• Store leftover manicotti in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Properly sealed, it will stay fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Wrap individual portions or the entire dish tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Frozen manicotti can last up to 3 months. Label with the date for easy tracking.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Cover the dish with foil to prevent drying out. Warm for 15-20 minutes until heated through, removing foil in the last 5 minutes for crispy cheese top.
• Place a single serving on a microwave-safe plate. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to ensure even warming. Stop when the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

What Works With Manicotti

• Harmonize Hearty Flavors with Perfect Pairings
• Robust Red Wine Companion: Select a medium-bodied Italian red like Chianti or Sangiovese to complement the rich beef and cheese flavors, cutting through the creamy texture with its tannic structure.
• Fresh Herbal Salad Sidekick: Prepare a crisp arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette, topped with shaved Parmesan to add brightness and provide a light contrast to the heavy manicotti.
• Crusty Garlic Bread Enhancer: Serve warm, herb-infused garlic bread to soak up extra marinara sauce, adding extra texture and complementing the Italian-inspired dish's robust profile.
• Citrus-Infused Sparkling Water Refresher: Offer a chilled sparkling water with fresh lemon or orange slices to cleanse the palate between bites, balancing the dish's richness and providing a refreshing counterpoint.

Manicotti Filling Combinations

• Vegetarian Manicotti: Replace ground beef and pork with a mixture of sautéed mushrooms, spinach, and ricotta. Add roasted zucchini and eggplant for extra depth and protein.
• Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free manicotti shells or substitute with zucchini tubes. Ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free for safe consumption.
• Low-Carb Adaptation: Swap pasta shells with blanched cabbage leaves or thin sliced eggplant. Keep the cheese and meat filling, reducing overall carbohydrate content while maintaining rich flavors.
• Dairy-Free Version: Substitute dairy cheeses with cashew ricotta and nutritional yeast. Use plant-based mozzarella alternatives and coconut butter instead of dairy butter.

FAQs

• What type of meat works best for this recipe?

Ground beef and ground pork are ideal, creating a rich and flavorful meat mixture that perfectly complements the cheese filling.

• Can I use fresh herbs instead of dried parsley?

Yes, fresh parsley works great. Use about 2-3 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley as a direct substitute for dried parsley in the recipe.

• Do I need any special equipment to fill the manicotti shells?

No special equipment is required. You can use a piping bag, a plastic Ziploc bag with the corner cut off, or simply carefully spoon the filling into the shells.

• How do I prevent the manicotti shells from tearing when filling?

Cook the shells just until al dente and handle them gently. Tossing them with a little olive oil after cooking helps prevent sticking and makes them more pliable for filling.

Beef and Cheese Manicotti Recipe

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4.6 from 37 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty beef and cheese manicotti brings classic Italian comfort to dinner tables with rich, melted cheese and savory meat nestled in delicate pasta tubes. Delicious layers promise a satisfying meal that invites you to savor each perfect, cheesy bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Pasta and Sauce:

• 14 manicotti pasta shells (8 ounces / 226 grams)
• 3 cups spaghetti marinara sauce
• 2 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces

Meat and Cheese Filling:

• 1/2 pound (226 grams) ground beef
• 1/2 pound (226 grams) ground pork
• 15 ounces (425 grams) whole milk ricotta cheese
• 3 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded (divided)
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (divided)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Seasoning and Herbs:

• 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

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Instructions

1. Prepare the meat foundation by sautéing chopped onions and minced garlic in olive oil. Introduce ground beef and ground pork, seasoning with salt and pepper. Cook thoroughly until meat develops a rich, caramelized exterior, then allow the mixture to cool completely.
2. Initiate pasta preparation by submerging manicotti shells in generously salted boiling water. Cook until pasta reaches a tender yet firm consistency, approximately 6 minutes. Gently remove and rinse with cool water, then lightly coat with olive oil to prevent adhesion.
3. Craft the luxurious filling by blending ricotta cheese with shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan. Incorporate finely chopped parsley and a whisper of nutmeg for depth. Fold the cooled meat mixture into the cheese blend, ensuring uniform distribution.
4. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Create a foundational layer in a rectangular baking dish by spreading marinara sauce. Carefully stuff each pasta tube with the cheese and meat mixture using a piping tool or spoon. Arrange stuffed shells in a precise, single layer.
5. Generously drape additional marinara sauce over the filled shells. Liberally sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan across the surface. Dot with small butter fragments to enhance richness and promote golden browning.
6. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake uncovered until the cheese melts into a bubbling, bronzed crust, approximately 30-35 minutes. Allow the dish to rest briefly, permitting flavors to meld and stabilize before serving.

Notes

• Choose ground beef with a moderate fat content around 15-20% for the best flavor and juiciness in the meat mixture.
• Quickly rinse manicotti shells under cold water after boiling to halt cooking and prevent them from becoming mushy.
• Consider using a piping bag or large plastic bag with corner snipped for cleaner, faster filling of delicate pasta tubes.
• For a lighter version, swap full-fat cheeses with part-skim ricotta and mozzarella, reducing overall calorie content without sacrificing taste.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 490
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 900 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 43 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 27 g
• Cholesterol: 85 mg