Cuban-style beef cannelloni filled with meat, covered in béchamel sauce and baked with golden gratin cheese.

 

🍝 Meat Cannelloni with Bechamel and Gratinated Cheese

If you love baked pasta dishes, these Cuban-style meat cannelloni will win you over: juicy filling with beef and pork, silky bechamel, and a golden cheese topping. A perfect choice for family lunch or to impress at a special dinner.

🧂 Ingredients for Meat Cannelloni

  • 400 g ground beef
  • 400 g ground pork
  • 200 g bacon
  • 18 sheets of fresh cannelloni pasta
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon wheat flour
  • 4 tablespoons tomato sauce
  • Bechamel sauce (as needed)
  • Grated yellow cheese (to taste)
  • 4 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • Butter for greasing
  • Salt and pepper to taste

 

 

👩‍🍳 Step-by-step preparation

1. Flavorful meat filling

Finely chop the onion and garlic. Cut the bacon into small strips. Heat the oil over medium heat and fry the bacon until it releases its fat. Add the onion and garlic; cook until soft. Stir in the ground beef and pork, breaking them apart as they cook. Season with salt and pepper.

Add the tomato sauce, oregano, and basil. Sprinkle the flour, stir well, and gradually add the milk while mixing to create a creamy, juicy filling. Cook for a few minutes, then remove from heat and set aside.

2. Cooking the pasta sheets

Boil the cannelloni sheets in salted water until tender. Drain and place them immediately in a bowl of cold water with ice to stop the cooking process. Lay them out on a clean cloth.

3. Assembling the cannelloni

Grease a baking dish with butter. Place about 2 tablespoons of filling in each sheet and roll them up to form cannelloni. Arrange them in the dish, cover with bechamel sauce (better fluid than too thick), and top generously with grated cheese.

🔥 Baking the cannelloni

Preheat the oven to 390 °F (200 °C). Bake until the cheese melts and turns golden, about 5 to 10 minutes, depending on your oven. Serve immediately to enjoy the creamy bechamel and perfect gratin.

ℹ️ Additional information:

  • Servings: 6 portions
  • Total time: 50 minutes (prep + cooking)
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Category: Pasta & Gratins
  • Cuisine: Cuban

📌 Related keywords:

  • Meat cannelloni with bechamel
  • Cuban-style baked cannelloni
  • Meat filling for cannelloni
  • Easy baked pasta dishes
  • Creamy cannelloni recipe

Did these cannelloni turn out amazing for you? Share in the comments how yours came out and what personal twist you added. Your ideas inspire the community!

For the original version in Spanish, visit: Canelones de Carne Caseros al Estilo Cubano.