Best 8 Spinach And Cheese Stuffed Manicotti Recipes

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Spinach and cheese stuffed manicotti is a classic Italian dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight dinner. This delicious dish features large pasta tubes that are filled with a creamy mixture of spinach, cheese, and herbs, then baked in a flavorful tomato sauce. Whether you are a seasoned chef or a beginner in the kitchen, this step-by-step guide will provide you with all the information you need to create a delectable spinach and cheese stuffed manicotti dish that will impress your family and friends.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

SPINACH CHEESE MANICOTTI



Spinach Cheese Manicotti image

The creamy cheese filling in these yummy stuffed shells has a pretty flecks of spinach. Margaret Truxton, Pinehurst, North Carolina

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 50m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon canola oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1-1/2 cups ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
8 manicotti shells, cooked and drained
1 jar (26 ounces) spaghetti sauce

Steps:

  • In a small skillet, saute onion in oil for 3 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Set aside. , In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, cream cheese, 4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and pepper; beat until smooth. Stir in onion mixture and spinach. Stuff into the manicotti shells., Pour half of the spaghetti sauce into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Arrange shells over sauce; top with remaining sauce., Cover and bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 682 calories, Fat 38g fat (19g saturated fat), Cholesterol 101mg cholesterol, Sodium 1418mg sodium, Carbohydrate 56g carbohydrate (21g sugars, Fiber 7g fiber), Protein 33g protein.

SPINACH & CHEESE STUFFED MANICOTTI



Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Manicotti image

This is a wonderfully cheesy manicotti recipe made easier by not having to cook the shells first. Comfort food at it's finest. The original recipe source idea is RecipeGirl, but made a few of my own changes and additions. Hope you try it, it is worth the time.

Provided by Meekocu2

Categories     Manicotti

Time 1h45m

Yield 12-14 manicotti, 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 (10 ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed completely and squeezed dry
8 ounces shredded low fat part-skim mozzarella cheese
10 ounces low fat or 10 ounces fat-free ricotta cheese
4 ounces low fat or 4 ounces fat free cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup shredded romano cheese, Parmesan, Asiagio cheese blend
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper (to taste)
1/8 teaspoon italian seasoning
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
uncooked manicotti noodles
3 hot Italian sausage links, casing removed, browned and drained
2 jars paul newman marinara sauce
1/2 cup shredded romano cheese, Parmesan, Asiagio cheese blend
fresh mozzarella cheese, for topping

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350* F.
  • Combine sauce and sausage in the same skillet sausage was cooked, keep warm.
  • In a large bowl, mix spinach, cheeses, eggs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir together until well blended.
  • Place about 2 cups sauce in a 9X13 inch casserole dish. Spread it around to cover the bottom.
  • Now, to fill the manicotti. You can do this however you wish. You can use a pastry bag, or a zip-lock bag with a corner cut, or a spoon. I chose to use an old baby spoon (from when my daughter was a baby, the kind with the rubber temperature controlled end). I had fantastic results doing it that way. I highly recommend doing it that way. You may have to fill half, turn manicotti around and fill from the other end, as I did. Try to get as much filling in as possible, letting it over flow from the ends. Place the filled shell into the sauce-lined dish. Repeat with the remaining manicotti shells, and fill the dish with the stuffed shells, until you either run out of room, or shells or filling. I ran out of room first, I got twelve into my casserole dish. (I did have left over filling, which I froze.) You could also use two separate smaller dishes, and freeze one for another meal.
  • Cover pasta with sauce, you don't have to use it all, just make sure all the exposed manicotti are covered in sauce, about 2 ½ cups. Place sliced mozzarella on top of sauce and sprinkle remaining ½ cup shredded cheese mix over the mozzarella. At this point, you can cover with foil and refrigerate until you're ready to bake, or you can cover with foil and place it in the oven immediately.
  • Bake, covered with foil, 50 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 10 minutes.
  • Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
  • Tips:.
  • It's perfectly fine if you want to use full fat versions of the cheeses, we just prefer the low fat and fat free versions.
  • It's perfectly fine to leave the spinach out and turn this into just a cheese manicotti.

CHEESE STUFFED MANICOTTI



Cheese Stuffed Manicotti image

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

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 teaspoon roasted garlic
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with garlic and onion
1 (12 ounce) can tomato paste
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 ½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic salt
1 (8 ounce) package manicotti shells
1 (8 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese
30 ounces cottage cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

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

SPINACH AND CHEESE MANICOTTI RECIPE BY TASTY



Spinach And Cheese Manicotti Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: manicotti shells, shredded italian cheese blend, ricotta cheese, frozen cut spinach, cream cheese, grated parmesan cheese, himalayan sea salt, pepper, dry parsley flakes, dry oregano, dry basil, garlic powder, onion powder, marinara sauce, fresh thyme

Provided by Sarah LaDue

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 box manicotti shells, follow box directions to prepare
12 cups shredded italian cheese blend
11 containers ricotta cheese, 15 oz (425 G)
1 bag frozen cut spinach
4 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
½ cup grated parmesan cheese, (reserve ¼ cup for serving)
½ teaspoon himalayan sea salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon dry parsley flakes
¾ tablespoon dry oregano
½ tablespoon dry basil
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 ½ jars marinara sauce, (can serve with extra) 24 oz (680 G)
¼ teaspoon fresh thyme

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  • Cook manicotti al dente. Then, rinse pasta with cool water and drain well.
  • Stir together all the spinach blend ingredients in a separate bowl and set aside.
  • In the bottom of an ungreased 13x9 (3 qt) glass baking dish, spread 1 ½ cups (390 G) pasta sauce along the bottom.
  • Spoon spinach mixture into a piping or a gallon-size Ziploc bag. Snip 1 inch (2.5 cm) off the corner - you want it big enough to fill the manicotti and be able to let all the ingredients pass through without clogging the piping hole.
  • Hold a manicotti shell in your hand and squeeze the filling inside the shell. Let it overflow just a bit on both sides.
  • Place the filled shells into the bottom of the pan: if you run out of room in your pan, use a separate smaller pan to accommodate the extra.
  • Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake for about 30 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling.
  • Uncover dish and top with more sauce. Then, sprinkle remaining ½ cup Italian cheese blend on top of the sauce.
  • Bake uncovered for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
  • Sprinkle with thyme and add some fresh chives (optional) upon serving. Serve hot.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1099 calories, Carbohydrate 18 grams, Fat 87 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 61 grams, Sugar 6 grams

CHEESE SPINACH MANICOTTI



Cheese Spinach Manicotti image

No one will even miss the meat in this hearty, delicious meal. Cream cheese and cottage cheese beef up the filling and give this lasagna-like dish a creamy base. -Julie Lower, Katy, Texas

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h50m

Yield 7 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 19

1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cans (8 ounces each) no-salt-added tomato sauce
2 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste
1-1/2 cups water
1/2 cup dry red wine or vegetable broth
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons dried oregano
FILLING:
1 package (8 ounces) fat-free cream cheese
1-1/4 cups 2% cottage cheese
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 package (8 ounces) manicotti shells
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan, saute onion and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, wine, Italian seasoning, sugar and oregano. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally., Meanwhile, for filling, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Stir in the cottage cheese, spinach, Parmesan cheese, eggs and salt., Stuff cream cheese mixture into uncooked manicotti shells. Spread 1 cup sauce into a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spay. Arrange manicotti over sauce. Pour remaining sauce over top., Cover and bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until pasta is tender. Uncover; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 389 calories, Fat 9g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 80mg cholesterol, Sodium 722mg sodium, Carbohydrate 50g carbohydrate (15g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 25g protein.

SPINACH CHEESE MANICOTTI



Spinach Cheese Manicotti image

My husband says this dish is restaurant quality. It can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator overnight. Very filling and great served with a salad and garlic bread.

Provided by Ernie

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 1h5m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
½ cup minced onion
1 egg
2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
½ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
1 ½ cups water
1 (8 ounce) package manicotti shells

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • In a large bowl, combine ricotta, spinach, onion and egg. Season with parsley, pepper and garlic powder. Mix in 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan. In a separate bowl, stir together spaghetti sauce and water.
  • Spread 1 cup sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Stuff uncooked manicotti shells with ricotta mixture, and arrange in a single layer in the dish. Cover with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 55 minutes, or until noodles are soft.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 576.1 calories, Carbohydrate 69 g, Cholesterol 81.8 mg, Fat 20.5 g, Fiber 9.2 g, Protein 29.8 g, SaturatedFat 9.7 g, Sodium 1409.9 mg, Sugar 24.4 g

SPINACH AND TRIPLE-CHEESE STUFFED MANICOTTI



Spinach and Triple-Cheese Stuffed Manicotti image

Serve up our delicious Spinach and Triple-Cheese Stuffed Manicotti recipe tonight. Our Triple-Cheese Stuffed Manicotti is sure to surprise and delight.

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Home

Time 1h15m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

12 manicotti shell, uncooked
4 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb. extra-lean ground beef
1 pkg. (8 oz. ) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, softened
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed dry
1/2 cup KRAFT Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 tsp. each dried basil and oregano leaves
1 jar (24 oz.) CLASSICO Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup POLLY-O Shaved Parmesan Cheese
1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350ºF.
  • Cook pasta as directed on package. Meanwhile, cook bacon in large skillet on medium heat 4 to 5 min or until crisp. Use slotted spoon to remove bacon from skillet, reserving drippings in skillet. Drain bacon on paper towels. Add onions and garlic to drippings; cook and stir 2 min. Add ground beef; cook and stir 6 to 7 min. or until no longer pink. Stir in bacon, Neufchatel, spinach, mozzarella and herbs.
  • Drain shells; fill with meat mixture. Pour 1 cup sauce into bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish; top with shells. Add water to pasta sauce jar. Cover with lid and shake jar. Pour water over shells; cover with foil.
  • Bake 45 min. or until heated through, uncovering after 35 min. Top with Parmesan.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 540, Fat 26 g, SaturatedFat 12 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 95 mg, Sodium 1210 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 35 g

SPINACH AND CHEESE STUFFED MANICOTTI



Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Manicotti image

Make and share this Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Manicotti recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Cristi Hinten

Categories     < 4 Hours

Time 1h30m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 (10 ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed completely &, squeezed dry
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
15 ounces ricotta cheese
4 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup romano cheese or 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
12 -14 manicotti noodles
3 -4 cups marinara sauce (1 jar a little more)
1/2 cup romano cheese or 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • 2. In a large bowl, mix spinach, cheeses, eggs, salt and pepper. Stir together until well blended.
  • 3. Place about 1 1/2 cups of marinara sauce in a 9x13-inch pan. Spread it around to cover the bottom.
  • 4. Place the mixed filling into a plastic bag. You can use either a frosting piping bag or a gallon zip bag. Snip the corner, gather the top and squeeze the filling into the corner. Hold an uncooked manicotti shell in your hand and squeeze the filling inside the shell. Let it overflow on both sides. Place the filled shell into the sauce-lined pan. Repeat with remaining manicotti and fill the pan with the stuffed shells, until you run out of shells and filling. You should be able to fill 12 to 14 shells- if you run out of room in your pan, use a separate smaller pan to accommodate the extra.
  • 5. Cover the pasta with marinara sauce, using about 2 1/2 cups of sauce. Sprinkle 1/2 cup Romano/Parmesan on top. At this point, you can cover with foil and refrigerate until you're ready to bake, or you can cover with foil and place it in the oven immediately.
  • 6. Bake, covered with foil, 50 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes.
  • Tips:.
  • *It's perfectly okay to use low fat ricotta and low fat cream cheese.
  • *If you don't wish to use the spinach, it's ok to leave it out and just turn this into a cheese-stuffed manicotti.
  • *If you don't wish to use the plastic bag method of squeezing the filling into the shells, you can use a very small spoon or fork to stuff the filling-- it will just take a bit longer and might be a little messy.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 512.9, Fat 33.7, SaturatedFat 18.6, Cholesterol 167.7, Sodium 1313.5, Carbohydrate 24.5, Fiber 4.9, Sugar 13.1, Protein 28.6

Tips:

  • To save time, use pre-made manicotti shells. You can find them in the pasta section of most grocery stores.
  • If you are using fresh spinach, be sure to wash and dry it thoroughly before chopping it. Fresh spinach contains a lot of water, so it is important to remove as much of it as possible before stuffing the manicotti shells.
  • Use a variety of cheeses in your filling. This will give the manicotti a more complex flavor. Some good options include ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
  • Be careful not to overcook the manicotti. They should be cooked until they are tender, but not mushy. The manicotti should also be cooked through to the center.
  • Serve the manicotti with your favorite sauce. Marinara sauce, Alfredo sauce, or pesto sauce are all good options.

Conclusion:

Spinach and cheese stuffed manicotti is a delicious and easy-to-make dish. It is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion. With a few simple tips, you can make manicotti that is sure to impress your family and friends.

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