Creamy Garlic Tuscan Pasta
Velvety garlic parmesan cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach, and perfectly cooked penne.
Save Pin The ultimate Sunday red sauce feast: manicotti pasta tubes stuffed with ground beef, Italian sausage, ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan, baked under marinara.
What makes this Baked Cheesy Italian Beef & Sausage Manicotti Recipe so rewarding is how effortlessly it brings authentic trattoria-level satisfaction right into your home kitchen. Centered around manicotti pasta shells, beef chuck & italian sausage and -milk ricotta cheese, this dish comes together in just 55 min, filling your home with the inviting aroma of simmered aromatics and authentic Italian comfort.
Boil manicotti shells in salted water for **6 minutes** (al dente). Drain and lay on parchment paper.
In a skillet, brown ground beef and sausage for **8 minutes** until cooked; drain fat. In a bowl, mix cooked meats, ricotta, 1.5 cups mozzarella, parmesan, egg, garlic, parsley, and salt.
Spread 1 cup marinara in a 9x13 baking dish. Pipe meat ricotta filling into manicotti shells; arrange in dish. Top with remaining marinara and 1.5 cups mozzarella.
Cover with foil; **bake at 375Β°F (190Β°C) for 25 minutes**. Uncover; **bake for 10 minutes** until cheese is melted and bubbling. Rest 5 minutes.
1. Let the Meat Rest Before Slicing: Transfer cooked meat to a cutting board for 5β10 minutes before carving. Resting allows tight muscle fibers to relax and redistribute savory juices evenly throughout the cut. 2. Protect Minced Garlic from Burning: Garlic cooks and turns fragrant in just 30 to 45 seconds. Add it toward the end of sautΓ©ing onions or aromatics so it perfumes the dish without acquiring a bitter edge. 3. Chef's Kitchen Secret: Use a gallon ziplock bag with the corner snipped to pipe filling into the pasta tubes effortlessly.
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in a saucepan with a splash of water, broth, or olive oil over low heat until steaming. If freezing pasta bakes or sauces, freeze for up to 3 months and bake from frozen at 350Β°F.
Q: Can I substitute gluten-free pasta? A: Yes, high-quality corn and brown rice pasta holds up wonderfully in this sauce. Cook 1 minute less than package directions to maintain al dente bite.
Q: Can I prepare the sauce in advance? A: Yes, Italian sauces often taste even better the next day as the herbs, garlic, and aromatics meld overnight in the refrigerator.
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