Prepare to embark on a delightful culinary journey as we unveil the secrets behind the "Best Stuffed Manicotti Recipe Ever." Manicotti, those irresistible pasta tubes filled with a tantalizing mixture of cheeses, meats, and vegetables, have captivated taste buds for generations. With this comprehensive guide, you'll discover the art of crafting this classic Italian dish, transforming ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary symphony of flavors. Whether you're a seasoned cook or just starting your culinary adventure, this article will equip you with the knowledge and techniques to create a stuffed manicotti dish that will leave your family and friends craving for more.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
STUFFED MANICOTTI
This recipe is so special I serve it to company. It is so easy to make too.-Cookie Curci-Wright, San Jose, California
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h40m
Yield 7 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 24
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, saute onion and green pepper in olive oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in all remaining sauce ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Uncover, simmer 10-15 minutes longer or until thickened. , Meanwhile, for manicotti, cook beef and onion in a skillet until the meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain; cool slightly. , Squeeze spinach thoroughly to remove excess water; add to the skillet with 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, eggs, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix well. Refrigerate 1-1/2 cups of the sauce (makes 4 cups), for another recipe. , Pour 1 cup of the remaining sauce into a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Stuff manicotti with the meat mixture; arrange over the sauce. Pour another 1-1/2 cups of sauce on top. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and remaining Parmesan cheese. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 505 calories, Fat 24g fat (9g saturated fat), Cholesterol 172mg cholesterol, Sodium 976mg sodium, Carbohydrate 34g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 35g protein.
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.
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.
BEEF STUFFED MANICOTTI WITH BASIL TOMATO SAUCE
This is the best manicotti recipe ever, I got it many years ago when living in San Francisco. It's so good I made sure to bring it with me when we moved to the Midwest. The sweet basil sauce pairs well with the rich cheese filling.-Melba Perlenfein, Barstow, Illinois
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h25m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the water, tomato paste, onion, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil, garlic, 1-1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. , Preheat oven to 350°. Combine the ricotta cheese, 3/4 cup Romano cheese, eggs and remaining parsley, salt and pepper. Stuff into manicotti shells. , Pour half of the meat sauce into a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. Arrange shells over sauce. Top with sauce; sprinkle with remaining Romano cheese. Bake, uncovered, until heated through, 30-35 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 813 calories, Fat 43g fat (25g saturated fat), Cholesterol 274mg cholesterol, Sodium 2075mg sodium, Carbohydrate 47g carbohydrate (19g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 66g protein.
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
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.
CHEESE STUFFED MANICOTTI
Homemade meat sauce served over manicotti stuffed with three cheeses. This is the best manicotti I have ever had. I always get requests for the recipe.
Provided by Melanie2008
Categories Main Dish Recipes Stuffed Main Dish Recipes
Time 1h35m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef, onion, and roasted garlic in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Continue to simmer until pan juices evaporate, about 10 minutes more. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, oregano, thyme, bay leaf, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and garlic salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until flavors blend, about 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook manicotti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and cool slightly.
- Mix mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, egg, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a bowl. Spoon a generous amount of the cheese mixture into each manicotti shell.
- Pour enough tomato-beef sauce to cover the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Arrange stuffed manicotti over sauce; pour remaining sauce over pasta. Cover with aluminum foil.
- Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese over manicotti and return to the oven. Bake until cheese filling is melted, 10 to 15 minutes more.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 653.5 calories, Carbohydrate 55.1 g, Cholesterol 129.1 mg, Fat 26.3 g, Fiber 5 g, Protein 52.6 g, SaturatedFat 13 g, Sodium 2893.5 mg, Sugar 17.9 g
STUFFED MANICOTTI WITH FRESH MARINARA SAUCE
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 2h35m
Yield about 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Make the crepes (crespelle):
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and melted butter. Gradually whisk in the flour and salt until the mixture is smooth. Refrigerate for 1 hour until slightly thickened.
- Spray an 8-inch nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Place the pan over medium heat. With a small ladle, pour about 3 tablespoons of the batter into the pan. Turn the pan at a 45 degree angle to coat the pan evenly so the batter forms a perfect circle. Cook the crepe only until lightly browned, about 30 seconds. Turn the crepe over with a spatula and cook the other side only until lightly browned, about 30 seconds. Slide the crepe onto a 12-inch platter and continue the process with the remaining batter. Stack the crepes between waxed paper so they don't stick. You can prepare these crepes a day in advance covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator. No need to reheat the crepes before filling and baking.
- Make the ricotta filling:
- In a large bowl, add all the ingredients for the ricotta filling. With a large wooden spoon or spatula, stir all the ingredients until well blended. Store covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator until ready to use. You can make this filling the day before.
- Make the marinara sauce:
- In a large heavy nonreactive saucepan with a lid, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic and cook until fragrant but NOT browned. Add the crushed tomatoes to the pan and crush further with a potato masher. Simmer 30 minutes, slightly covered, on medium-low heat, stirring every so often.
- Add the parsley, basil leaves and salt and pepper, to taste, and simmer for another 10 minutes until the sauce is slightly reduced. Taste and re-season as necessary.
- Put it all together:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch glass or ceramic baking dish with 1 cup of the prepared marinara sauce.
- Spoon 3 tablespoons of the prepared ricotta filling 1 inch from the edge of a crepe. Roll evenly into a log, keeping the filling even as you roll. Repeat with the remaining crepes. Place manicotti seam side down and side by side in the sauced baking pan.
- Spoon 1 to 2 cups of sauce over the top of the manicotti. Sprinkle with the grated Parmesan.
- Cover the baking dish loosely with foil and bake about 20 minutes. Uncover and bake another 20 minutes until the topping is golden brown and sides are bubbling. Let rest about 15 minutes before serving to firm up the manicotti filling.
Tips:
- Choose the right pasta. The best pasta for stuffed manicotti is a large, tube-shaped pasta, such as manicotti shells or jumbo shells. These shells can be easily filled with a variety of fillings and will hold their shape when baked.
- Cook the pasta al dente. Pasta that is cooked too soft will be difficult to fill and will fall apart when baked. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, but be sure to check it a few minutes before the recommended cooking time to ensure that it is still slightly firm.
- Prepare the filling ahead of time. The filling for stuffed manicotti can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until you are ready to assemble the dish. This will save you time on the day you are serving the manicotti.
- Use a variety of fillings. Stuffed manicotti is a versatile dish that can be made with a variety of fillings. Some popular fillings include ricotta cheese, spinach, meat, and vegetables. You can also add herbs, spices, and other flavorings to the filling to create a unique dish.
- Be careful not to overstuff the pasta shells. Overstuffed shells will be difficult to close and may burst open when baked. Fill the shells with just enough filling so that they are plump, but not so much that they are bursting at the seams.
- Bake the manicotti in a covered dish. This will help to keep the manicotti moist and prevent them from drying out.
- Serve the manicotti with a flavorful sauce. A simple marinara sauce is a classic choice, but you can also use a creamy Alfredo sauce or a pesto sauce. You can also garnish the manicotti with grated Parmesan cheese or fresh herbs.
Conclusion:
Stuffed manicotti is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little planning and preparation, you can easily make this dish at home. So next time you are looking for a special meal to serve to your family and friends, give stuffed manicotti a try.
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