Cheesy Beef & Spinach Manicotti
This baked spinach and cheese manicotti is filled with a creamy ricotta mixture, layered with hearty meat sauce, and topped with melted mozzarella for the ultimate comfort food dinner. Easy to prepare and family-friendly, this classic Italian-inspired pasta bake is perfect for weeknights, gatherings, or make-ahead meals.
Equipment
- 1 baking dish 9"x13"
- 1 skillet
- 1 pot
- piping bag
Ingredients
- 1 8-ounce box manicotti shells
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Parmesan cheese for garnish
- Fresh basil for garnish
Cheese & Spinach Filling
- 1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 10-ounce box frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed completely dry
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil finely chopped
Meat Sauce
- Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 24-ounce jar pasta sauce
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the manicotti shells and cook for 5–6 minutes, just until al dente. Drain and arrange the shells on a baking sheet to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, mix together all of the filling ingredients until well combined. Transfer the mixture to a piping bag, or use a spoon to fill the shells.
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Once fully cooked, stir in the pasta sauce and let it simmer for a few minutes.
- Spread half of the meat sauce evenly across the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Pipe the filling into each manicotti shell and arrange them in an even layer in the baking dish.
- Spoon the remaining meat sauce over the filled shells, then sprinkle with shredded mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5–10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and lightly golden on top.
- Garnish with extra parmesan and fresh basil before serving.
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