You made be the type that steers clear of any recipe requiring you to stuff or fill pasta, but I have some great tricks that will make you a pro! This recipe is delicious, kid friendly, and makes enough to feed a large family.
You will need:
1 box manicotti shells
1 pound ground beef
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 jar marinara sauce
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook manicotti shells according to package directions. While boiling, add a splash of olive oil to keep them from sticking together. Drain noodles, rinse with cold water, and lay them out so they are not touching.
Brown and drain the ground beef. Allow to cool for about five minutes and add to a large bowl, along with the ricotta, half of the mozzarella, and about 1/4 cup of the marinara. Mix well and place mixture into a large ziplock bag. Cover the bottom of a large casserole dish with a thin layer of marinara. Cut a small piece of one corner of the ziplock bag off. Using the bag to squeeze the mixture into each shell, fill the manicotti and place in a single layer in the casserole dish.
Cover the dish with the remaining marinara and sprinkle the remaining mozzarella on top.
Bake for 30-40 minutes. This goes great with bread and a simple salad, as it is very filling and hearty.
