Cheese Stuffed Manicotti

This three-cheese stuffed manicotti recipe is baked with rich, homemade meat and tomato sauce flavored with roasted garlic, making for a hearty dinner.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 20 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins
• Calories: 654 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 (12 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 (8 ounce) package manicotti shells
• 1 teaspoon roasted garlic
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with garlic and onion
• 30 ounces cottage cheese
• 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
• 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.25 teaspoon garlic salt

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a boil. Add manicotti and return to a boil. Cook manicotti, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and cool slightly.

Step 3

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef, onion, and roasted garlic; cook and stir until beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Continue simmering until pan juices evaporate, about 10 minutes more. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons salt, bay leaf, oregano, thyme, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and garlic salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer sauce until flavors blend, about 30 minutes.

Step 4

Combine cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, egg, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper in a bowl. Spoon a generous amount cheese filling into each manicotti shell.

Step 5

Pour enough sauce to cover bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Arrange stuffed manicotti over sauce; pour remaining sauce over stuffed manicotti. Cover dish with aluminum foil.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup Parmesan cheese over manicotti and return to the oven. Bake until cheese filling is melted, 10 to 15 minutes more.