Best 3 Make Ahead Manicotti Recipes

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There's nothing quite like a delicious, hearty dish of manicotti, but let's be honest, it can be quite time-consuming to make. Enter: make-ahead manicotti! With just a bit of planning, you can have a delicious meal ready to pop in the oven whenever you're ready. Get ready to explore a world of flavors and convenience as we delve into the best recipes for make-ahead manicotti, transforming your culinary experience and making mealtime a breeze.

Let's cook with our recipes!

MAKE-AHEAD MANICOTTI



Make-Ahead Manicotti image

I have used this basic principle and adapted it to make stuffed shells and lasagna. If making lasagna, I buy a second, smaller jar of spaghetti sauce. I always feel like I need a bit more. Merry Manicotti!

Provided by Sandir

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 1h30m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 pint ricotta cheese
2 eggs
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 ½ tablespoons white sugar
⅛ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
12 manicotti shells
1 (32 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce

Steps:

  • In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta cheese and eggs until blended. Stir in spinach, mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, sugar, salt and pepper. Stuff mixture into uncooked pasta shells.
  • Spread 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a medium baking dish. Arrange stuffed pasta shells in a single layer over the sauce. Pour the remainder of the sauce over the shells, cover dish, and chill in the refrigerator for 8 hours, or overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Bake covered for 40 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese, and bake for another 15 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 506.6 calories, Carbohydrate 55.8 g, Cholesterol 112.3 mg, Fat 19.1 g, Fiber 6.4 g, Protein 28.8 g, SaturatedFat 9.5 g, Sodium 1057.8 mg, Sugar 18.4 g

MAKE-AHEAD SPINACH MANICOTTI



Make-Ahead Spinach Manicotti image

When I invite people to dinner, many have started requesting this pasta bake ahead of time because it's that good. Plus, the manicotti is stuffed before it's cooked, making it even more convenient. -Christy Freeman, Central Point, Oregon

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h

Yield 7 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 carton (15 ounces) whole-milk ricotta cheese
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1-1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
3 jars (24 ounces each) spaghetti sauce
1 cup water
1 package (8 ounces) manicotti shells

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, mix ricotta, spinach, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley and seasonings. In another large bowl, mix spaghetti sauce and water; spread 1 cup into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., Fill uncooked manicotti shells with ricotta mixture; arrange over sauce. Pour remaining spaghetti sauce mixture over top. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Refrigerate, covered, overnight., Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake, uncovered, 40-50 minutes or until manicotti is tender. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked casserole. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake casserole as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 363 calories, Fat 16g fat (8g saturated fat), Cholesterol 68mg cholesterol, Sodium 822mg sodium, Carbohydrate 35g carbohydrate (11g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 22g protein.

MAKE-AHEAD SPINACH MANICOTTI



Make-ahead Spinach Manicotti image

This is so yummy! The addition of spinach makes it extra good!! Also, its a "make-ahead meal" and that is always handy!

Provided by Courtly

Categories     Manicotti

Time 1h20m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 (15 ounce) carton ricotta cheese
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
3/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese, divided
1 egg
2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
2 (28 ounce) jars pasta sauce with meat
1 1/2 cups water
1 (8 ounce) package manicotti

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine ricotta, spinach, 1 cup mozzarella, 1/4 cup Parmesan, egg, parsley, onion powder, pepper and garlic powder.
  • Combine the spaghetti sauce and water; spread 1 cup sauce in an ungreased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish.
  • Stuff uncooked manicotti with spinach mixture; arrange over sauce.
  • Pour remaining sauce over manicotti.
  • Sprinkle with remaining mozaarella and Parmesan.
  • Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  • Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.
  • Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 40-50 minutes or until heated through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 435.7, Fat 21.2, SaturatedFat 12.5, Cholesterol 106, Sodium 478.9, Carbohydrate 34.2, Fiber 2.8, Sugar 1.8, Protein 27.3

Tips:

  • Choose the right manicotti shells. Jumbo shells are the most popular size for manicotti, but you can also use regular or mini shells. Just make sure that the shells are not too thick, or they will be difficult to fill.
  • Cook the manicotti shells al dente. This means that they should be cooked until they are tender but still have a slight bite to them. If you overcook the shells, they will become mushy and fall apart.
  • Use a variety of fillings. Manicotti can be filled with a variety of ingredients, such as ricotta cheese, spinach, meat, or vegetables. Get creative and experiment with different flavor combinations.
  • Don't overfill the manicotti shells. If you overfill the shells, they will be difficult to seal and may burst open during baking.
  • Use a light sauce. A heavy sauce will overpower the delicate flavor of the manicotti. A simple tomato sauce or a creamy Alfredo sauce are both good choices.
  • Bake the manicotti until it is bubbly and golden brown. This usually takes about 30 minutes.

Conclusion:

Manicotti is a delicious and versatile dish that can be made with a variety of ingredients. With a little planning and effort, you can make a manicotti dish that will impress your family and friends. So next time you're looking for a new recipe to try, give manicotti a try. You won't be disappointed!

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