Indulge in the culinary delight of manicotti, a beloved Italian dish that combines tender pasta shells, a rich and flavorful filling, and a delectable sauce. This versatile dish has a rich history, with variations found across different regions of Italy. Our collection of manicotti recipes offers a diverse range of culinary experiences, from classic Italian flavors to modern twists and vegetarian options. Each recipe provides step-by-step instructions to guide you in crafting this delectable dish, ensuring a delightful homemade meal. Discover the secrets of preparing the perfect manicotti filling, whether it's a traditional ricotta and spinach combination, a savory meat filling, or a unique blend of vegetables and cheese. Learn how to select the ideal pasta shells for a perfect al dente texture, and explore different sauce options, from a classic tomato sauce to a creamy béchamel sauce. With our comprehensive recipes, you'll master the art of creating manicotti that will impress your family and friends, leaving them craving for more.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
THE BEST CHEESE MANICOTTI
I love Italian food, and I love cooking for my friends at college, so that's how this dish evolved. I don't really use any written recipe when I make it, so some of the seasoning measurements are approximate. This makes seven 2 manicotti shell servings, which is a lot, but it tastes great even as leftovers.
Provided by Nadezhjda
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h5m
Yield 7 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Cook the manicotti shells according to the directions on the box.
- Drain in colander and set aside to dry.
- Mix all the ricotta, 2 cups mozzarella, and 1/4 cup parmesan in a bowl.
- Add an extra handful of mozzarella and a little more parmesan if you like it cheesier.
- I like a lot of flavor in my manicotti so I just keep adding the basil and Italian seasoning until I think its enough.
- If you dont like a lot of seasoning, just put 1 tsp.
- of each in.
- If not, just keep adding until it's seasoned to your taste.
- You can also add a dash of salt and pepper if you like or a little bit of garlic.
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Once the shells are drained and the cheese is mixed together, begin stuffing the shells.
- Be careful because they have a tendency to split.
- Pour about half of the marinara sauce in the bottom of the baking dish and spread evenly before you place the shells in the dish.
- Once all the shells arranged in the baking dish, pour the remainder of the marinara sauce on top.
- Then add any leftover cheese on top of the sauce.
- Sprinkle with basil and Italian seasoning.
- Cover with aluminum foil.
- Bake for about 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 443.4, Fat 30.1, SaturatedFat 17.9, Cholesterol 107, Sodium 762.9, Carbohydrate 15.2, Fiber 1.9, Sugar 7.4, Protein 27.6
BEEF AND CHEESE MANICOTTI
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories main-dish
Time 55m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat a heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, onion and ground beef. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until the meat browns and the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and cool.
- Brush 1 teaspoon of oil over a large baking sheet. Cook the manicotti in a large pot of boiling salted water until slightly softened, but still very firm to the bite, about 4 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the manicotti from the pot to the oiled baking sheet and cool.
- Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, 1 1/2 to 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan, and parsley. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper to taste, and mix. Stir the cooled meat mixture into the cheese mixture.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Brush the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil over a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Spoon 1 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. Fill the manicotti with the cheese-meat mixture. Arrange the stuffed pasta in a single layer in the prepared dish and spoon the remaining sauce over.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese, then the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan over the stuffed pasta. Dot entire dish with the butter pieces. Bake the manicotti uncovered until heated through and the sauce bubbles on the sides of the dish, about 30 to 35 minutes. Let the manicotti stand 5 minutes and serve.
STUFFED MANICOTTI
Make and share this Stuffed Manicotti recipe from Food.com.
Provided by ThatJodiGirl
Categories Manicotti
Time 1h
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Par-boil manicotti noodles, drain.
- Place in a bowl of cold water to prevent sticking.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Combine eggs, 1/4 cup of the parmesan cheese, 1/2 of the mozzarella,cheddar and ricotta cheeses and the seasonings.
- Drain shells, pat dry with paper towels.
- Fill shells with cheese mixture, spread 1/2 cup of the prepared spaghetti sauce over bottom of shallow 3 quart baking dish.
- Arrange filled shells over sauce; cover with remaining sauce and spoon remaining ricotta over each shell.
- Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella, cheddar and parmesan cheeses.
- Bake covered loosely with foil for 40 minutes.
GRANDMA'S KITCHEN OLD-WORLD MANICOTTI
I came across this recipe on a Grandma's Kitchen recipe card and found it to be the BEST manicotti I have ever experienced. It is a favorite of all our friends and family and most definitely a staple meal in our home. If you've always been the type to shy away because of the terror of stuffing the shells, well I've thrown in a little secret of mine to walk you through the process.
Provided by Peachie Keene
Categories Manicotti
Time 1h
Yield 12 stuffed shells, 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F Spray 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cook pasta according to package directions(be sure to not over cook, they need to be a little chewey for easier stuffing). Carefully remove each shell and rinse with cool water. Let pasta dry on paper towels. Don't get too upset if a couple break, its bound to happen :).
- For the filling, in a large ziplock bag (seriously!), put in 3 cups mozzarella with the ricotta and fresh basil. Seal the bag tightly. Smush the bag around with your hands until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed (it's a nice stress reliever too!).
- Snip off the bottom corner of the ziplock bag (the point is to have the hole a tad smaller than the manicotti opening, where you can just barely slip it into the shell). Use this method to squeeze the cheese mixture into each manicotti.
- See, that wasn't so bad! ;).
- Spoon 2 cups spaghetti sauce into prepared baking dish. Arrange stuffed pasta over sauce. Pour remaining spaghetti sauce over top of pasta. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.
- Bake manicotti for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with the Parmesan; bake for 10 minutes longer. Serve immediately.
THE BEST ITALIAN MANICOTTI
Make and share this The Best Italian Manicotti recipe from Food.com.
Provided by weekend cooker
Categories Manicotti
Time 1h25m
Yield 6-8 dishes, 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Ina large skillet, brown ground beef, then add garlic and onion, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes and drain.
- Add tomatoes, and the tomato liquid, mushrooms, fennel seed, basil, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, and pepper and stir to mix well.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- In a seperate bowl, stir together well drained spinach, half the parmesan, cottage cheese, nutmeg, and pepper.
- In a sprayed 9x13 inch baking dish, spoon 1/3 of the beef sauce evenly over bottom of dish.
- Fill manicotti shells with spinach mixture and place on beef layer in baking dish.
- Repeat until all spinach mixture has been used in manicotti shells.
- Pour remaining beef sauce evenly over manicotti shells to cover.
- Sprinkle remaining parmesan cheese over top.
- Cover and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until shells are tender.
MEAT FILLED MANICOTTI
This is a tasty and filling dish that can be nicely paired with a green salad if desired.
Provided by teppij
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h10m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain and cool. Reserve.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet brown beef on medium heat. Drain and cool.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Combine beef, cottage cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg whites and oregano. Mix well. Stuff shells with mixture.
- Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Pour enough spaghetti sauce in dish to cover the bottom. Place stuffed noodles in the dish. Cover with spaghetti sauce and top with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Bake in preheated oven for 50 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 667.9 calories, Carbohydrate 50.5 g, Cholesterol 103.5 mg, Fat 33.3 g, Fiber 5.2 g, Protein 40.1 g, SaturatedFat 15.2 g, Sodium 1248.7 mg, Sugar 15.1 g
MANICOTTI
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 1h15m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- If using fresh spinach, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, and season generously with salt. Fill a medium bowl with ice water and season with salt. Boil the spinach until tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, (keep the water in the pot boiling), and immediately plunge the spinach into the ice water. Drain and squeeze the excess water from the spinach, and finely chop. Alternatively, if using thawed spinach, simply squeeze, and finely chop. Set aside.
- In the same large pot of boiling water, cook the manicotti shells according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and pat dry.
- Spread 1 cup of the marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Lightly beat the eggs in a medium bowl. Add the spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, and 1/3 cup of the grated cheese and mix until evenly combined. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, the nutmeg and pepper. Spoon the cheese mixture into the manicotti shells and line them up in the baking dish. Cover with the remaining 2 cups sauce. Scatter the remaining 2/3 cup grated cheese on top and dot with the butter.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
- Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the herb sprigs and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 10 minutes.
- Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in 2 teaspoons salt and season with pepper to taste. Use right away, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Yield: 3 1/2 cups
- Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved.
MANICOTTI
Delicious! Serve with a crispy salad and garlic bread, and you'll have a dish your family will love! The kids like to help stuff the noodles too!
Provided by Anny
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h15m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Cook manicotti in boiling water until done. Drain, and rinse with cold water.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- In a large bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, and 1/2 cup Parmesan, eggs, parsley, and salt and pepper. Mix well.
- Pour 1/2 cup sauce into an 11x17 inch baking dish. Fill each manicotti shell with 3 tablespoons cheese mixture, and arrange over sauce . Pour remaining sauce over top, and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.
- Bake 45 minutes, or until bubbly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 676.3 calories, Carbohydrate 53.2 g, Cholesterol 188.8 mg, Fat 30.9 g, Fiber 4.3 g, Protein 46 g, SaturatedFat 17.1 g, Sodium 1254.7 mg, Sugar 12.6 g
Tips:
- For a richer flavor, use a combination of ground beef and Italian sausage.
- Add some chopped sun-dried tomatoes or roasted red peppers to the filling for a pop of flavor and color.
- If you don't have any ricotta cheese, you can substitute cottage cheese or mashed potatoes.
- To make the manicotti ahead of time, assemble them and bake them according to the recipe. Then, let them cool completely and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you're ready to serve, reheat them in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until they're warmed through.
- Manicotti can also be frozen for up to 2 months. To freeze them, assemble them and place them in a single layer in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months. When you're ready to serve, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator and then bake them according to the recipe.
Conclusion:
Manicotti is a delicious and versatile dish that can be made with a variety of fillings and sauces. Whether you're looking for a classic Italian meal or something a little more creative, manicotti is sure to please everyone at the table. So what are you waiting for? Give this recipe a try today!
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