Preheat oven to 350F and grease a casserole dish.

Boil pasta in salted water for 2 minutes less than package directions instructs. Drain and set aside.

Blend cottage cheese until smooth and place in a large bowl.

Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, drain any excess oil and season with salt, italian seasoning and garlic powder. Allow to cool slightly before mixing with the blended cottage cheese.

Pour a thin layer of the marinara sauce into the casserole dish. Use a large plastic bag or a piping bag to pipe the cheese and beef mixture into the cooked manicotti.

Arrange the filled manicotti in the casserole dish and top with the remaining marinara sauce. Top with the mozzarella cheese and cover the casserole dish with foil

Bake covered at 350F for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes to brown the cheese.