Cheese Filled Manicotti with Meat Sauce
Sauce:- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- onion, chopped (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
- 2, 26 oz jars marinara sauce (no sugar in the ingredients)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- dash or two of cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Filling:
- 2 lb container ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded 5 or 6 cheese Italian blend (whichever your grocery store stocks)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed to remove as much liquid as possible
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh Italian flat leaf parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- dash nutmeg
To assemble and serve:
- 8 oz package manicotti noodles
- 2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend
- Grated Parmesan
- Fresh torn basil leaves
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13×9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
Prepare sauce:
Brown ground beef in a dutch oven over medium to medium-high heat. Add garlic, salt and pepper. If using onion, add at this point. Stir in red pepper flakes, marinara sauce, dried basil, cinnamon and sugar. Reduce heat until sauce is softly simmering.
Prepare manicotti shells as directed on the package. Be careful not to overcook. Drain and set aside. (Prepare the filling while the pasta cooks.)
Prepare the filling:
Combine all filling ingredients in a large bowl, stirring well.
To assemble:
Spoon about 2 cups of the sauce into the bottom of the prepared pan. Fill the cooked manicotti shells with the ricotta mixture using a pastry bag, a small spoon or your hands (I use my hands… it’s just easier.) If a shell splits while you are filling it don’t worry about it. You can place it seam side down in the pan and no one will notice 
As you fill each shell, lay them over the sauce in your prepared pan. Once all have been filled, top them with more sauce. You want to pour the sauce down the center of the shells, leaving the ends exposed so they will get a little crispy as they bake. And… because it just looks prettier and that’s important too.
Sprinkle the two cups of shredded cheese over the sauce. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until hot and bubbly and the cheese is starting to brown a bit.
Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes before serving.
To serve, place one or two (most people will go for two) filled manicotti shells on dinner plate. Spoon a little extra sauce over the manicotti. Sprinkle with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh torn basil leaves.
I'm already wondering about using fresh lasagne and simply rolling it up around the filling...or tortillas...or making a pasta layer dish...or...
