Have you ever made a Traditional, Classic Italian Manicotti? It’s actually not all that difficult to make and it tastes amazing. This viral TikTok version using Mozzarella cheese sticks as the filling makes it even easier to make and is surprisingly delicious considering how few ingredients it calls for and how quickly it comes together. I’ve posted numerous viral recipes on the blog and I have yet to be disappointed with any of the results. There’s a reason these recipes blow up on social media. They’re typically easy to make and taste amazing! With thousands of positive reviews you know there’s a high probability it’s going to be really good. And this recipe is no exception. Consider adding it to your holiday menu. It would be the perfect accompaniment to a Prime Rib Roast Beef on your holiday table this year.
Start by preheating the oven to 350℉.
Cook manicotti pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside on parchment paper to prevent the tubes of pasta from sticking together.
While the pasta is cooking, crumble and cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until it’s cooked through and browned. Drain off any excess fat.
Manicotti is typically served without any meat. The addition of ground beef makes for a heartier meal. Omit the ground beef and use just the marinara sauce if you want a more traditional version of this Italian dish.
Stir in marinara sauce and continue to cook until heated through. Season with garlic powder, salt and pepper, to taste.
Spread half the sauce in the bottom of a 13X9 inch oven safe casserole dish.
Slide a cheese stick into each cooked manicotti noodle.
Place the cheese filled pasta in a single layer in the casserole dish.
Top pasta with remaining marinara sauce.
Cover all the noodles with the marinara sauce.
Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
Top with a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese.
Coat a sheet of foil with cooking spray and cover casserole dish. This helps prevent the melted cheese from sticking to the foil as the casserole bakes in the oven.
MAKE AHEAD TIP: You can assemble the casserole up to this point, cover it with foil, and refrigerate overnight. Just remove it from the fridge and let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking it the following day. You may need to add about 10-15 minutes to the bake time to ensure it’s heated all the way through.
Bake at 350℉, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted and bubbly.
Turn oven temperature to “broil” and cook until cheese is toasted and light golden brown along the edges.
Remove from oven and allow casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Garnish with freshly chopped basil if desired.
Serve with a crisp green salad and garlic bread to round out this delicious meal!
Serve with a tart, crisp green salad to round out the meal. Try this easy to make Rockin’ Good Rocket Salad with a tart, lemon vinaigrette paired with peppery arugula, crunchy toasted pumpkin seeds and shaved Parmesan cheese. A light, healthy, flavorful salad that pairs beautifully with the creamy, cheesy Manicotti.
Or try this absolutely fabulous Rich & Creamy Caesar Salad With Crisp, Garlicky Toasted Croutons recipe. You can create one of the best tasting salads you will ever eat using just a handful of simple, high quality ingredients.
Try this Delectable Asiago Garlic Cheese Bread. The addition of Asiago cheese to this loaf makes it one of the tastiest sides to serve with all your favorite pasta meals, soups and salads.
If you’re feeling more ambitious, try your hand at baking up this No-Knead, Rosemary, Garlic Artisanal Boule. Can you think of anything in life more satisfying than pulling a perfectly baked loaf of French bread out of the oven that you made all by yourself? Seriously when your kitchen is filled with the amazing aroma of freshly baking bread and you pull a beautiful loaf of bread out of the oven, it ranks up there on the list of one of the most satisfying things in life! And the best part? You get to eat it too!
Not only is this easy to make delicious pasta dish perfectly acceptable making an appearance on your holiday table; because it’s so easy to make, you can serve it up for dinner even on a busy weeknight. Cheesy and delicious…it’s sure to please all the pasta lovers in your family! You must try this dish. It won’t disappoint.
Mozzarella Cheese Stick Manicotti
Equipment
- 13×9 inch oven safe casserole dish
Ingredients
- 8 oz package manicotti pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 24 oz jar marinara sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 14 sticks mozzarella string cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 16 oz Mozzarella cheese, shredded
- freshly chopped basil for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- Cook manicotti pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside on parchment paper to prevent pasta from sticking together.
- While pasta is cooking, crumble and cook ground beef until browned in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain off any excess fat.
- Stir in marinara sauce and cook until heated through. Season with garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Spread half the meat sauce in the bottom of a 13X9 inch oven safe casserole dish.
- Slide a cheese stick into each manicotti noodle.
- Place in a single layer in the casserole dish.
- Top with remaining meat sauce covering all the noodles.
- Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Top with a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Coat a sheet of foil with cooking spray and cover casserole dish.
- Bake at 350℉, covered, for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Turn oven temperature to "broil" and cook until cheese is toasted and light golden brown along the edges.
- Remove from oven and allow casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with freshly chopped basil if desired.
Did You Make This?
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