Baked Manicotti
Meat and cheese stuffed pasta shells, smothered in marinara sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses...Benissimo!!
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 1 (8 oz.) pkg. manicotti noodles
- 1 lb. lean ground beef or sausage
- 1 sm. onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 1/2 c. cottage cheese
- 2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese plus more for sprinkling
- 2 lg. egg whites lightly beaten
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 1 (32 oz.) jar marinara sauce or homemade, divided
- 1 T. chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, brown beef or sausage with onions and garlic over medium heat. Drain off excess grease and cool.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Pour just enough marinara sauce into the dish to cover the bottom.
- In a large bowl, combine beef, cottage cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg whites and oregano; mix well. Place the filling in a large piping bag. Fill each shell with meat and cheese mixture. Place stuffed noodles in the baking dish.
- Cover stuffed noodles with remaining marinara sauce and top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes. Sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped parsley if desired. Enjoy with a fresh green salad and garlic bread.