Cheesy Beef-Stuffed Manicotti: Quick & Easy Weeknight Dinner

Quick Manicotti Recipe

🕒 Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
🍴 Servings: 8

Description:

This Quick Manicotti recipe is a delightful concoction from an old-school cookbook, perfect for those busy weeknights when you need a hearty and comforting meal on the table in no time. It’s a family-friendly dish that even your little ones can assist with, especially in the fun task of stuffing the shells! You can also opt to skip the ground beef for a vegetarian-friendly version.

Ingredients:

8 manicotti shells
1 lb ground beef
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

Step	Description
1	Cook the manicotti shells according to the package instructions; then, drain them.
2	Rinse the cooked shells in cold water, drain, and set them aside.
3	In a skillet, cook the ground beef and minced garlic, breaking it up with a spatula, until it’s no longer pink.
4	Drain off any excess pan drippings from the cooked beef.
5	To the cooked beef, add the cottage cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, salt, and mayonnaise; stir well to combine all the ingredients thoroughly.
6	Stuff the manicotti shells with the prepared meat mixture, ensuring they are evenly filled.
7	Lightly grease a 13x9x2-inch baking dish and arrange the stuffed manicotti shells in it.
8	In a separate bowl, combine your favorite pasta sauce with dried oregano.
9	Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the stuffed manicotti shells in the baking dish.
10	Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the top of the sauce-covered manicotti.
11	Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake it in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes.
12	After 15 minutes, remove the foil and continue baking the manicotti for an additional 10 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt and the edges to become golden brown.
13	Once baked, remove the manicotti from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving.