Welcome back to Kelvin’s Kitchen! Today, we have a special treat for you – a mouthwatering recipe for meat manicotti. Get ready to indulge in layers of cheesy goodness and flavorful ground meat. This recipe is so simple and convenient that you’ll be able to serve a delicious homemade meal without spending hours in the kitchen.

Making the Meat Filling

To start, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add one pound of lean ground beef and one pound of ground pork, breaking up the meat as it cooks until it turns brown. Next, add in one medium-sized diced onion and sauté until it becomes translucent, which takes about two minutes. Now, it’s time to add in the aromatic ingredients. Toss in five cloves of minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, around one minute.

The next step is to season the meat mixture. Add one teaspoon of sea salt, freshly ground black pepper to taste, one teaspoon of oregano, a quarter teaspoon of cumin, half a cup each of diced red and green bell peppers, and two tablespoons of fresh Italian parsley. Incorporate the spices and vegetables into the meat mixture. Then, add one cup of water, one tablespoon of tomato paste, and one cup of tomato sauce. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for at least 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Preparing the Manicotti Shells

While the meat mixture simmers, prepare the manicotti shells. In a large pot of boiling water over high heat, add one teaspoon of salt and about two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. This will prevent the pasta from sticking together. Cook one box of manicotti pasta according to the package instructions, typically for about nine minutes. Drain the pasta and let it cool on a rack for a few minutes.

Assembling and Baking the Manicotti

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the pasta has cooled down, spread one cup of tomato sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Next, layer the ground meat mixture on top of the sauce. Using a teaspoon, gently stuff each manicotti shell with the meat mixture and place them in the baking dish.

Pour one more cup of tomato sauce over the manicotti and sprinkle one cup of freshly grated mozzarella cheese on top. Place the baking dish in the center of your preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and turned golden brown. You can garnish the dish with fresh Italian parsley for an extra pop of flavor.

Enjoying Your Meat Manicotti

Now that your meat manicotti is hot out of the oven, it’s time to dig in! Serve this cheesy and savory dish as a main course, accompanied by a fresh salad or some garlic bread. The flavors of the ground meat and the creamy mozzarella will have everyone coming back for seconds.

Visit El Reno Ok for more mouthwatering recipes and culinary inspiration. Remember, cooking should be a fun and delicious experience, so don’t be afraid to experiment and make the recipe your own. Enjoy your meat manicotti, and happy cooking!