Beefy Manicotti Recipes

Steps:

• Heat a heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, onion and ground beef. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until the meat browns and the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and cool.
• Brush 1 teaspoon of oil over a large baking sheet. Cook the manicotti in a large pot of boiling salted water until slightly softened, but still very firm to the bite, about 4 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the manicotti from the pot to the oiled baking sheet and cool.
• Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, 1 1/2 to 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan, and parsley. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper to taste, and mix. Stir the cooled meat mixture into the cheese mixture.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brush the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil over a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Spoon 1 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. Fill the manicotti with the cheese-meat mixture. Arrange the stuffed pasta in a single layer in the prepared dish and spoon the remaining sauce over.
• Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese, then the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan over the stuffed pasta. Dot entire dish with the butter pieces. Bake the manicotti uncovered until heated through and the sauce bubbles on the sides of the dish, about 30 to 35 minutes. Let the manicotti stand 5 minutes and serve.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook and drain pasta shells as directed on package, using minimum cook time. Rinse with cold water to cool; drain.
• Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, cook beef, 1 cup onion and the garlic over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain, if desired. Stir in basil, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper; cook 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat; cool to room temperature.
• In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Cook mushrooms and 1/2 cup onion in oil, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add tomatoes and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook about 10 minutes, breaking up tomatoes, until sauce is thoroughly heated.
• In large bowl, mix beef mixture, ricotta cheese and Parmesan cheese. Spoon mixture into pasta shells. Place in baking dish. Pour sauce over stuffed shells. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
• Cover; bake 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 20 to 25 minutes longer or until hot and bubbly.

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.