For those who love creamy, tacky, and comforting Italian dishes, then this Cheese Manicotti is for you! Tender pasta shells are full of a wealthy ricotta and mozzarella filling, coated in savory marinara sauce, and baked till golden and bubbly. This simple baked manicotti recipe is ideal for weeknight dinners, particular events, or meal prep. Serve it with a aspect of garlic bread and a recent salad, and also you’ve obtained a restaurant-quality meal at house!
Why You will Love This Excellent Pasta Dish
- Simple to Make. With easy components and a foolproof methodology, this recipe is ideal for each newbie and seasoned cooks.
- Tremendous Tacky. Loaded with ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan, it’s a cheese lover’s dream!
- Make-Forward Pleasant. Excellent for meal prep or freezer-friendly for a stress-free dinner.
- Basic Italian Consolation Meals. A heat, baked dish that’s at all times a household favourite!
This Cheese Manicotti is wealthy, creamy, and filled with taste. Whether or not you are making it for a weeknight dinner or a particular gathering, it’s assured to impress!
What Does Manicotti Style Like?
Manicotti is a basic Italian pasta dish that includes massive, tube-shaped pasta shells full of a cheese or meat filling, coated in marinara sauce, and baked till bubbly. The identify “manicotti” interprets to “little sleeves” in Italian, referring to the hole pasta shells that maintain the filling.
This cheese-filled model is a meatless basic that is excellent for vegetarians or anybody who loves an ultra-cheesy, comforting dish!
Substances You will Want
For The Filling
- Ricotta Cheese– The creamy, wealthy base of the filling, offering a clean texture and gentle, barely candy taste that balances the tanginess of the marinara sauce.
- Spinach– Provides taste, texture, and dietary worth to the dish.
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese– Offers the filling further gooeyness and ensures a melty, stretchy texture when baked. It additionally enhances the highest layer, making a golden, bubbly end.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese– Provides a nutty, salty depth to the cheese combination, intensifying the general taste and balancing the richness of the ricotta.
- Egg– Acts as a binding agent, serving to maintain the cheese combination collectively and giving it construction so it doesn’t ooze out when baked.
- Garlic Powder– Enhances the filling with a savory depth and a touch of garlicky goodness, complementing the cheese and tomato flavors.
- Italian Seasoning– A aromatic mix of basil, oregano, and thyme, bringing genuine Italian taste to the cheese filling.
- Salt– Enhances the flavors of the cheeses, making the filling extra flavorful and well-balanced.
- Black Pepper– Provides a delicate heat and slight spiciness, rounding out the flavors of the cheese combination.
Meeting
- Manicotti Shells– Massive, tube-shaped pasta shells that maintain the cheese filling. Cooking them al dente ensures they preserve their form and don’t turn out to be too mushy when baked.
- Marinara Sauce – A wealthy, tomato-based sauce that coats the manicotti, infusing the dish with savory, barely tangy flavors. It additionally retains the pasta moist throughout baking.
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (for topping)– Sprinkled on high to create a bubbly, golden layer that makes the dish further tacky and indulgent.
- Recent Basil or Parsley– Provides a pop of freshness and colour, balancing the richness of the dish with a lightweight, herby end.
The ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan type a wealthy, tacky filling, completely complemented by fragrant seasonings. The manicotti shells maintain the filling whereas being enveloped in marinara sauce and baked with further mozzarella, leading to a gooey, tacky, and flavorful Italian dish. Garnishing with recent basil or parsley provides the ultimate contact, making every chew deliciously balanced!
How To Make Cheese Manicotti
- Prepare dinner the Manicotti Shells. Deliver a big pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare dinner the manicotti 1-2 minutes lower than the bundle directions (they may end cooking within the oven). Drain and rinse with chilly water to stop sticking.
- Make the Cheese Filling. In a big mixing bowl, mix ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Combine till clean and effectively mixed.
- Fill the Manicotti Shells. Switch the cheese combination to a big piping bag or zip-top bag. Minimize the tip and punctiliously pipe the filling into every manicotti shell. Alternatively, use a spoon to stuff the shells gently.
- Assemble the Dish. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Unfold 1 cup of marinara sauce evenly throughout the underside of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Prepare the crammed manicotti shells in a single layer on high of the sauce. Pour the remaining 1 cup of marinara sauce over the shells. Sprinkle with ½ cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake to Perfection. Cowl the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Take away the foil and bake for one more 10 minutes, or till the cheese is bubbly and barely golden.
- Garnish and Serve. Let the manicotti cool for five minutes earlier than serving. Garnish with recent basil or parsley for added freshness. Serve with garlic bread and a crisp inexperienced salad for an entire meal!
Ideas And Methods
Wish to make completely tacky, flavorful, and scrumptious Cheese Manicotti each time? Comply with these knowledgeable ideas to make sure your manicotti seems excellent:
- Prepare dinner the pasta barely underdone. It should proceed cooking within the oven, stopping mushy pasta.
- Use a piping bag for straightforward filling. A zipper-top bag works too; simply snip the nook!
- Don’t overfill the shells. Depart a bit of room so the cheese doesn’t ooze out whereas baking.
- Cowl whereas baking. Retains the pasta moist and prevents the cheese from over-browning.
- Let it relaxation earlier than serving. This enables the cheese to set for simpler slicing.
Variations
Wanting so as to add a twist to your basic Cheese Manicotti? Whether or not you need to incorporate extra veggies, further protein, or totally different sauces, these artistic variations will take your baked manicotti to the following degree:
- Spinach and Cheese– Add 1 cup of sautéed spinach to the cheese combination for a nutritious increase.
- Meat Lover’s– Combine in cooked floor beef or Italian sausage to the cheese filling.
- Alfredo– Swap marinara for creamy Alfredo sauce for a wealthy, indulgent twist.
- Mushroom and Ricotta– Stir in sautéed mushrooms for further umami taste.
- Gluten-Free– Use gluten-free pasta shells for a celiac-friendly possibility.
What To Eat With Manicotti
Manicotti is a wealthy, tacky, and comforting Italian dish that pairs fantastically with a wide range of sides, salads, breads, and drinks. Whether or not you are serving it for a comfortable household dinner or an important day, listed here are the most effective accompaniments to finish your meal:
- Garlic Bread– A crispy, buttery aspect that’s excellent for absorbing the sauce.
- Caesar Salad– A recent and crunchy distinction to the wealthy, tacky pasta.
- Roasted Greens– Serve with roasted zucchini, asparagus, or bell peppers.
- Crimson Wine– A glass of Chianti or Merlot pairs fantastically with this Italian dish.
How Lengthy Does It Final?
Cheese Manicotti may be saved within the fridge for as much as 4 days when saved in an hermetic container. To take care of the most effective texture, let it cool fully earlier than storing it to stop extra moisture buildup.
When reheating, bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, coated with foil to maintain it from drying out.
Can You Freeze It?
If you wish to retailer it for longer, unbaked manicotti may be frozen for as much as 2 months. To freeze, assemble the dish however don’t bake—cowl tightly with foil and freeze.
When able to bake, prepare dinner instantly from frozen at 375°F for 45-50 minutes, eradicating the foil for the final 10 minutes for a bubbly, golden high.
Extra Comforting Pasta Dishes
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Servings: 6 servings
Energy: 411kcal
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Directions
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Prepare dinner the Manicotti Shells. Deliver a big pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare dinner the manicotti 1-2 minutes lower than the bundle directions (they may end cooking within the oven). Drain and rinse with chilly water to stop sticking.
-
Make the Cheese Filling. In a big mixing bowl, mix ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Combine till clean and effectively mixed.
-
Fill the Manicotti Shells. Switch the cheese combination to a big piping bag or zip-top bag. Minimize the tip and punctiliously pipe the filling into every manicotti shell. Alternatively, use a spoon to stuff the shells gently.
-
Assemble the Dish. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Unfold 1 cup of marinara sauce evenly throughout the underside of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Prepare the crammed manicotti shells in a single layer on high of the sauce. Pour the remaining 1 cup of marinara sauce over the shells. Sprinkle with ½ cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
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Bake to Perfection. Cowl the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Take away the foil and bake for one more 10 minutes, or till the cheese is bubbly and barely golden.
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Garnish and Serve. Let the manicotti cool for five minutes earlier than serving. Garnish with recent basil or parsley for added freshness. Serve with garlic bread and a crisp inexperienced salad for an entire meal!
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Vitamin
Energy: 411kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 26g | Fats: 20g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g
