Classic Italian Beef Cannelloni Recipe

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey reduces fat content while ground pork is often less expensive.

ricotta cheese

🥗Healthier: cottage cheese

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Cottage cheese lowers calories while cream cheese is often more affordable.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: cheddar cheese

Part-skim mozzarella reduces fat, while cheddar can be a less expensive option.

Parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated Romano cheese

Nutritional yeast offers a cheesy flavor with fewer calories, while Romano is often cheaper.

Start with the meat sauce by heating 3 tablespoons of sunflower oil in a skillet over medium heat.

Add 2 cups of small-cut onion and 1 tablespoon of garlic, cooking for about 4 minutes.

Add 4 cups of ground beef to the skillet and cook for 6-7 minutes until browned, stirring often.

Stir in 2 cups of tomato paste and 2 teaspoons of oregano, cooking for another 5 minutes until the sauce is fairly dry.

In a separate pan, heat 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of plain wheat flour over low heat, stirring for about 4 minutes.

Add a pinch of nutmeg and 700 ml of milk to the flour mixture, stirring until thickened for about 3-4 minutes.

Mix in 2 cups of grated cheese to the white sauce and set aside.

Use no-cook cannelloni pasta for easier stuffing.

Stuff the cannelloni with the meat sauce using a spoon or finger.

In a glass baking dish, layer the stuffed cannelloni, followed by the tomato sauce and then the white sauce.

Top with 200 grams of cheese and a sprinkle of oregano.

Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (392°F) for about 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens