Baked Beef Cannelloni
Introduction
Cannelloni is a classic Italian comfort dish made with tube-shaped pasta stuffed with a rich filling, covered in sauce, and baked with cheese until golden and bubbly.
Ingredients
For the filling:
400g ground beef
1 small onion (finely chopped)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
Salt & black pepper
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp oregano
For the sauce:
2 cups tomato sauce
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt & pepper to taste
Other:
10–12 cannelloni tubes (or lasagna sheets rolled)
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated parmesan
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté onion and garlic until soft.
Add ground beef, cook until browned, then season with salt, pepper, paprika, and oregano.
Pour a little tomato sauce into the meat mixture and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
Let the filling cool slightly, then stuff it into the cannelloni tubes.
Spread some tomato sauce on the bottom of a baking dish.
Place the stuffed cannelloni on top.
Cover completely with remaining sauce.
Sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan generously over the top
How to Make (Baking)
Preheat oven to 180°C
Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes
Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes until golden and bubbly
Variations
Add béchamel sauce for a creamy version
Use chicken or tuna instead of beef
Add spinach and ricotta for a vegetarian optio
Tips
Don’t overfill the tubes to avoid breaking them
Make sure pasta is fully covered with sauce so it cooks well
Let it rest 5 minutes before serving
Nutrition
High in protein
Rich in calcium (cheese)
Moderate carbs from pasta
Healthy Benefits
Provides energy and protein
Can be made lighter with lean meat or low-fat cheese
Add vegetables for extra vitamins
Conclusion
This cheesy baked cannelloni is the perfect comfort food—rich, satisfying, and full of flavor. Great for family dinners or special occasions