String Cheese Manicotti
User Reviews
4.9
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
25 mins
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Total Time
40 mins
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Servings
6 servings
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Calories
233 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Italian
String Cheese Manicotti
Description
In this recipe, manicotti pasta shells are cooked and stuffed with string cheese, which melts inside the pasta during baking, offering a creamy interior. The meat sauce is made by browning ground beef with onions and garlic, then simmering it with spaghetti sauce to create a robust and savory base. Half of this sauce is spread on the bottom of the baking dish before placing the filled manicotti.
After arranging the stuffed pasta over the sauce, the remaining sauce is spread on top before covering with foil to bake. Once heated through, the foil is removed, and the dish is topped with mozzarella cheese to melt and Parmesan cheese for an added savory flavor and slight nuttiness. The finished dish has layers of tender pasta, melted cheese, and flavorful meat sauce.
Optional garnishing with fresh basil adds a touch of herbal brightness. This baked dish is suited for family dinners or casual entertaining and pairs well with a side salad or steamed vegetables.
The recipe source is adapted from Taste of Home.
Ingredients
- 1 package (8 ounces) manicotti shells
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 /2 cup onion finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 jar (24 ounces) spaghetti sauce
- 12 pieces string cheese
- 1½ cups mozzarella cheese shredded, part-skim, 6 ounces
- Parmesan Cheese grated
- basil optional, chopped
Instructions
- Cook manicotti according to package directions in salted water.
- While pasta is cooking, cook beef and onion over medium heat in a large skillet until meat is no longer pink; add garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Drain meat. Stir in spaghetti sauce. Spread half of the meat sauce into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Drain manicotti. Stuff each shell with a piece of string cheese. You could even use 2 pieces of string cheese but we thought one was plenty once it melted. Arrange manicotti over meat sauce. Place over meat sauce; top with remaining sauce. Cover with foil and bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.
- Uncover and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and garnish with basil if desired.
Notes
- This recipe is adapted from Taste of Home and features string cheese as the filling for a gooey center.
- Using one piece of string cheese per shell provides ample melted filling after baking.
- Fresh basil garnish adds herbal flavor if desired.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 233 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1/6 of the recipe | |
| Calories | 233kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 6g | 2% |
| Protein | 23g | 46% |
| Fat | 13g | 20% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.4g | 2% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Trans Fat | 0.5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 68mg | 23% |
| Sodium | 241mg | 10% |
| Potassium | 296mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 0.4g | 2% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 136IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 235mg | 24% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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