Best 7 Grandma Donnas Manicotti Recipes

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Indulge in a culinary journey to Italy with Grandma Donna's Manicotti, a delightful dish that embodies the essence of traditional Italian cuisine. These oven-baked pasta tubes, meticulously filled with a savory blend of ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and herbs, are expertly crafted to deliver a symphony of flavors and textures.

Immerse your senses in the rich tomato sauce, infused with garlic, onion, and a touch of Italian seasoning, that gently embraces each manicotti, creating a harmonious balance of tangy and robust flavors. Discover the secrets behind Grandma Donna's exceptional manicotti, as she generously shares her family's treasured recipe, along with variations that cater to diverse dietary preferences.

Whether you're a seasoned cook or a culinary novice, Grandma Donna's Manicotti is an accessible and rewarding dish to prepare. With step-by-step instructions and helpful tips, you'll be guided through the process of creating this classic Italian dish in your own kitchen.

Unveil the secrets of the traditional meatless manicotti, a vegetarian rendition that showcases the vibrant flavors of roasted eggplant, zucchini, and mushrooms. Explore the delightful combination of spinach and artichoke in a creamy filling, wrapped in tender manicotti shells.

For those with a preference for heartier fare, discover the tantalizing meat-filled manicotti, where succulent ground beef and sausage blend harmoniously with the classic ricotta and cheese filling. And for a taste of the sea, embark on a culinary adventure with seafood manicotti, featuring a delectable medley of shrimp, crab, and scallops enveloped in a luscious sauce.

With Grandma Donna's Manicotti, you'll embark on a culinary journey that celebrates the rich traditions of Italian cuisine. Prepare to tantalize your taste buds and create lasting memories around the dinner table, as you savor each bite of these exquisite pasta creations.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

MANICOTTI



Manicotti image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h15m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 pound fresh spinach, tough stems removed, or a 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
12 manicotti shells
3 cups Marinara Sauce, recipe follows
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese (about 1 pound)
1 cup shredded mozzarella (about 4 ounces)
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese or a mixture of half Pecorino and Parmesan
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
2 teaspoons unsalted butter, diced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 medium onion, diced (about 3 tablespoons)
3 cloves garlic, chopped
One 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes with their juices (3 1/2 cups), roughly chopped
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 sprig fresh basil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

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



Manicotti image

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

1 pint part-skim ricotta cheese
8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1 teaspoon dried parsley
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
1 (16 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
5 ½ ounces manicotti pasta

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

GRANDMA'S KITCHEN OLD-WORLD MANICOTTI



Grandma's Kitchen Old-World Manicotti image

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

12 large manicotti
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
2 cups ricotta cheese
6 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 2 tablespoons dried basil
1 (26 ounce) jar prepared spaghetti sauce, divided (I have used Prego or made my own)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese or 1/2 cup romano cheese

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.

GRANDMA'S MANICOTTI



Grandma's Manicotti image

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Recipes

Time 45m

Number Of Ingredients 6

12 large manicotti shells
4 cups Kraft Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
2 cups ricotta cheese
6 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 2 tablespoons dried basil
1 jar (26-ounce) prepared spaghetti sauce, divided
1/2 cup Kraft Parmesan or Romano Cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; rinse with cool water. Let pasta dry on paper towels.
  • For filling, in medium bowl, stir together 3 cups mozzarella with the ricotta and fresh basil. Using a teaspoon, carefully stuff pasta shells with prepared cheese mixture.
  • 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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 0 g, Fat 0 g, SaturatedFat 0 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 g, Sodium 0 g, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 0 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 0 g

GRANDMA NANCY'S MANICOTTI



Grandma Nancy's Manicotti image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h40m

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

3 1/2 cups ricotta
1 1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano
2 eggs slightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
12 manicotti pasta crepes, homemade or store bought
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1 quart Grandma Nancy's Marinara Sauce or tomato meat sauce, recipe follows
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 medium cloves garlic, chopped
2 cans (1 crushed, 1 puree) tomatoes
4 medium fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In a medium bowl combine the ricotta, 1 cup of the grated cheese, eggs, and pepper.
  • Fill each crepe with approximately 1/4 cup of the cheese mixture centering it in a straight line down the middle. Top with the shredded mozzarella. Take one end of the crepe and fold over the cheese filling. Then take the other end and pulling slightly, fold over in a wrapping motion overlapping the stuffed portion of the crepe. Repeat until all 12 crepes are filled.
  • Spread one cup of the sauce in the bottom of a large baking pan that has been sprayed with a non-stick cooking spray. Place the filled manicotti in the pan, seam down, side-by-side. Do not overlap, and do not layer them. Spoon the remaining sauce over the manicotti. Be sure to cover all the pasta. Sprinkle with the remaining grated cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 30 minutes or until the sauce is hot and bubbling.
  • Remove from the oven and let stand for approximately 10 to 15 minutes before serving. This will give the manicotti time to settle which will make for easy serving. The manicotti will fall apart if served immediately.
  • In a pan heat the olive oil. Add onions and cook until translucent. Add garlic and cook for a few minutes on medium heat. Do not let garlic burn. Add tomatoes, basil, oregano, and pepper. Let tomato mixture cook for approximately 30 minutes.

GRANDMA DONNA'S MANICOTTI



Grandma Donna's Manicotti image

Manicotti is a favoret meal at my house. I try to reduce as much fats as I can when cooking without losing the flavor.

Provided by donna clark

Categories     Turkey

Time 1h5m

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 pkg ( 8 oz each ) manicotti shells
1 lb bulk italian sausage
4 c cubed turkey or chicken ( cooked )
1 oz carton rediuced ricotta cheese
2 c (8 oz ) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 c grate romano cheese
3/4 c reduiced fat parmesan cheese
1/4 c minced fresh parsley
2 jar(s) (26 oz ) each spaghetti sauce
1/4 c butter cubed
1/4 c flour all-purpose
2 eggs beaten
2 1/2 c low fat milk

Steps:

  • 1. Cook manicotti according to package directions. Meanwhile melt butter in a sause pan, Stir in the flour until smooth. Gradually add milk, bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted, set aside.
  • 2. Drain the manicotti and set aside.
  • 3. In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat until no longer pink, and drain. Add the chicken, eggs, mozzarella cheese ,rictta cheese, and romano cheese and 3/4 cup white sauce. Stuff into manicotti shells.
  • 4. Spread 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce each in two ungreased 13" by 9" baking pan. Top with manicotti. Pour remaining spaghetti sauce over the top.
  • 5. Reheat the remaining white sauce, stirring constantly. Pour over spaghetti sauce sprinkle with fresh parsley. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees fo 45-50 minutes. let stand 10 minutes before serving.

OLD-WORLD MANICOTTI RECIPE - (4.5/5)



Old-World Manicotti Recipe - (4.5/5) image

Provided by cwyorkiex3

Number Of Ingredients 6

12 large manicotti shells
4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
2 cups ricotta cheese
6 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped or 2 tablespoons dried basil
1 jar (26 ounce) prepared spaghetti sauce, divided
1/2 cup Parmesan or Romano cheese, grated

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 13 x 9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; rinse with cool water. Let pasta dry on paper towels. For filling, in medium bowl, stir together 3 cups mozzarella with the ricotta and fresh basil. Using a teaspoon, carefully stuff pasta shells with prepared cheese mixture. 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.

Tips:

  • To ensure the manicotti shells cook evenly, it's recommended to boil them in salted water for about 3-4 minutes before stuffing and baking.
  • For a richer flavor, use a combination of ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese in the filling.
  • To prevent the manicotti from drying out during baking, cover the baking dish with foil for the first 20 minutes.
  • If you want a crispy topping, sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese over the manicotti before baking.
  • Serve the manicotti immediately with your favorite pasta sauce, such as marinara or Alfredo sauce.

Conclusion:

Grandma Donna's Manicotti is a delicious and hearty Italian dish that's perfect for a special occasion meal. With its combination of tender pasta shells, flavorful cheese filling, and rich sauce, this dish is sure to please everyone at the table. So, grab your apron and give this recipe a try - you won't be disappointed!

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