Easy Beef, Spinach, and Cheese Manicotti

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup onion (chopped)
• 4 cloves garlic
• 4 cups tomato juice (divided)
• 1 6 ounce can tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 15 ounce container part-skim Ricotta cheese
• 3 cups 12 ounces shredded Mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1 package frozen spinach (thawed and drained)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 8 ounce package manicotti shells (uncooked)
• Parsley or basil

Instructions

1. 1

   --- For the Sauce: ---

2. 2

   Cook the ground beef and onion until beef is browned. Add the garlic and cook another minute.

3. 3

   Add 2 cups of tomato juice, tomato paste, and seasonings.

4. 4

   Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat. Cook for about 20 minutes or until meat is tender.

5. 5

   --- For the Filling: ---

6. 6

   Mix the ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, spinach, eggs, Parmesan, and salt together until combined. Place in a plastic bag and then squeeze into both ends of each shell.

7. 7

   --- Assembling: ---

8. 8

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

9. 9

   Place filled shells in the bottom of the pan and top with the simmered sauce and then pour the remaining 2 cups of tomato juice on top.

10. 10

    Cover with foil and bake for 50 minutes.

11. 11

    Remove from the oven, take off foil, and immediately put on the remaining 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese and let it sit for 10 minutes. Top with parsley or basil and serve.