Mozzarella Cheese Stick Manicotti
This easy to make pasta dish pairs perfectly with roast beef for Christmas, leaving more time to enjoy the holiday with your family.
Equipment
- 13x9 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.