Short description
Cheesy Beef-Stuffed Pasta Tubes is a rich, satisfying dish where tender pasta tubes are filled with seasoned beef and smothered in a savory tomato sauce and melted cheese. It’s a hearty, crowd-pleasing meal perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This dish combines comforting pasta, flavorful beef filling, and gooey cheese in every bite. It’s great for feeding a group, can be made ahead, and is easy to customize with different cheeses or added vegetables. Plus, it bakes up beautifully for a golden, bubbly finish.
Ingredients
(Tip: You can find the complete list of ingredients and their measurements in the recipe card below.)
large pasta tubes (cannelloni or manicotti)
ground beef
onion, diced
garlic, minced
olive oil
tomato sauce
tomato paste
Italian seasoning
ricotta or cottage cheese (optional in filling)
mozzarella cheese, shredded
Parmesan cheese
salt
black pepper
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook pasta tubes until just al dente; drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil and sauté onion and garlic until soft.
- Add beef and cook until browned; season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir in tomato paste and a little tomato sauce; simmer for 5 minutes.
- Fill pasta tubes with beef mixture (use a piping bag or spoon).
- Spread some tomato sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange filled tubes on top.
- Pour remaining sauce over pasta. Sprinkle generously with mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Servings and timing
Serves 4–6
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes
Variations
- Add spinach or mushrooms to the beef mixture.
- Use ground turkey or chicken.
- Swap mozzarella for provolone or gouda.
Storage/reheating
Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until hot.
FAQs
Can I make this ahead?
Yes, assemble and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
Can I freeze it?
Yes, freeze before baking for best results.
What pasta is best?
Cannelloni or manicotti tubes hold the filling well.
Can I add ricotta to the filling?
Yes, it adds creaminess.
How do I prevent pasta from tearing?
Cook al dente and handle gently when filling.
Can I use jarred sauce?
Yes, for convenience.
Is it gluten-free?
Use gluten-free pasta tubes.
Can I add more cheese on top?
Absolutely, for an extra cheesy bake.
How long does it last?
Up to 3 days in the fridge.
What sides pair well?
Garlic bread or a green salad.
Conclusion
Cheesy Beef-Stuffed Pasta Tubes is a comforting, flavorful dish that’s perfect for cozy dinners and special occasions. It’s simple to make yet delivers impressive results at the table.
Print
Cheesy Beef-Stuffed Pasta Tubes
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: Serves 4–6
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Cheesy Beef-Stuffed Pasta Tubes is a rich, satisfying dish where tender pasta tubes are filled with seasoned beef and smothered in a savory tomato sauce and melted cheese. It’s a hearty, crowd-pleasing meal perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
- large pasta tubes (cannelloni or manicotti)
- ground beef
- onion, diced
- garlic, minced
- olive oil
- tomato sauce
- tomato paste
- Italian seasoning
- ricotta or cottage cheese (optional in filling)
- mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Parmesan cheese
- salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook pasta tubes until just al dente; drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil and sauté onion and garlic until soft.
- Add beef and cook until browned; season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir in tomato paste and a little tomato sauce; simmer for 5 minutes.
- Fill pasta tubes with beef mixture (use a piping bag or spoon).
- Spread some tomato sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange filled tubes on top.
- Pour remaining sauce over pasta. Sprinkle generously with mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Notes
- For added flavor, you can mix spinach or mushrooms into the beef mixture.
- Ground turkey or chicken can be used as a leaner option for the filling.
- Swap mozzarella for provolone or gouda for a different cheese flavor.
- This dish can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until hot.
- Assemble and refrigerate the dish up to 24 hours before baking for easy make-ahead preparation.
- Freezing before baking works best, but you can also freeze after baking if needed.
- Cannelloni or manicotti tubes are ideal for holding the filling and providing the best result.
- Adding ricotta to the filling enhances its creaminess and richness.
- Cook the pasta al dente to prevent it from tearing when filling.
- For convenience, jarred tomato sauce can be used.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta tubes.
- If you’re a cheese lover, feel free to add more cheese on top before baking.
- Serve with garlic bread or a green salad for a perfect meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
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