Beef & Cheese Manicotti

I got this recipe from Giada De Laurentiis on the Food Network. It takes lots of prep but is well worth it. I did change a few things from her Recipe.

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 1  lb ground beef
• 1  medium onion, diced
•  olive oil
•  salt & pepper
• 8  ounces  manicotti
• 1 (15 ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
• 3  cups  finely shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1  cup  grated parmesan cheese
• 1  teaspoon  minced garlic
• 4  cups  spaghetti sauce
• 1⁄2 cup butter, cut into small pieces

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cook the manicotti in a large pot of boiling salted water until slightly softened, but still firm if eaten. Be careful not to let them get too soft or it makes stuffing them very difficult.
3. Heat a large pan over medium heat.
4. Saute the ground beef and onion in olive oil.
5. Remove from the heat and let cool.
6. Brush a small amount of oil over a large baking sheet and Place the firmly cooked manicotti on it to cool.
7. Meanwhile combine the ricotta, 1 1/2-2 cups of mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of Parmesan.
8. Add the minced garlic, salt & pepper to taste, and mix.
9. Stir the cooled meat mixture with the cheese mixture.
10. Brush another small amount of oil over a 13 by 9 glass baking dish.
11. Spoon 1 1/2 cups of the spaghetti sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish.
12. Fill the manicotti with the cheese and meat mixture, being careful not to break the noodles.
13. Arrange the stuffed pasta in a single layer in the dish and spoon the remaining sauce over the manicotti.
14. Sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella and the parmesan cheese over the pasta.
15. Place the small butter pieces all over the dish.
16. Bake the stuffed manicotti uncovered until heated through. The sauce will bubble on the sides of the dish, takes around 35 minutes.
17. Let the manicotti stand for about 5 minutes.
18. Serve.