The Best Cheesy Manicotti: A Step-By-Step Guide

Manicotti is a large, tube-shaped pasta that is stuffed with a rich and creamy cheese filling, topped with sauce, and baked until bubbly. The pasta is filled with a mixture of ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese, along with other ingredients such as spinach, Italian seasoning, and egg. The manicotti is then baked in a marinara sauce, resulting in a hearty and impressive vegetarian main dish. This comfort food is perfect for a family dinner and can be made ahead of time, making it a convenient option for busy cooks.

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Preparing the cheese mixture

To prepare the cheese mixture for manicotti, you will need ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, an egg, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. You can also add chopped spinach, garlic, nutmeg, and parsley to the mixture, if desired.

First, in a medium-sized bowl, combine the ricotta cheese with the mozzarella and Parmesan. The general ratio is equal parts ricotta to the other two cheeses, but you can adjust this to your taste. Add the egg to the mixture to help bind the cheeses together. Season the mixture with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, and mix until well combined. At this point, you can add in any optional ingredients, such as spinach, garlic, nutmeg, or parsley, and mix until evenly distributed throughout the cheese mixture.

If you are adding meat to your manicotti, you will need to prepare it separately before combining it with the cheese mixture. In a skillet, cook ground beef or sausage with onions until the meat is browned and the onions are translucent. Allow the meat mixture to cool before stirring it into the cheese mixture.

Once your cheese mixture is prepared, you can stuff the uncooked manicotti shells with the mixture and proceed with baking according to your chosen recipe.

Stuffing the manicotti

Manicotti is a large, tube-shaped pasta, similar to cannelloni, that is stuffed with a rich and creamy cheese filling. The cheese mixture typically includes ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan, along with other ingredients like eggs, Italian seasoning, and spinach. Here is a step-by-step guide to stuffing the manicotti:

Preparing the Manicotti Shells:

Start by cooking the manicotti shells according to the package directions. It is recommended to undercook the manicotti slightly so that it is still firm, as it will continue to soften in the oven. After cooking, rinse the manicotti in cold water and set it aside to cool down.

Making the Cheese Filling:

In a medium-sized bowl, combine ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and any additional ingredients you desire, such as spinach, Italian seasoning, beaten egg, minced parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix the ingredients until they are well incorporated and you have a creamy cheese filling.

Once the manicotti shells have cooled down enough to handle, it's time to stuff them with the cheese filling. You can use a spoon or a piping bag to fill the manicotti tubes. Gently fill each manicotti tube with the cheese mixture, being careful not to overfill. Stuff the manicotti generously from both ends to ensure an ample amount of filling. If you're using jumbo shells, simply spoon the cheese mixture into each shell.

Assembly and Baking:

After stuffing the manicotti, it's time to assemble the dish. Spread a layer of marinara sauce onto the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange the stuffed manicotti shells in a single layer on top of the sauce. You can also add additional ingredients, such as cooked sausage crumbles, shredded chicken, or ground meat, on top of the sauce before placing the manicotti. Once the manicotti is arranged, cover them with the remaining sauce and any additional toppings, such as extra cheese or parsley. Cover the baking dish with aluminium foil and bake at 350°F for about 40-50 minutes, or until the pasta is tender.

Final Touches:

After baking, remove the foil and sprinkle the manicotti with additional cheese or parsley, if desired. Return the dish to the oven and bake, uncovered, for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Finally, let the manicotti rest for a few minutes before serving. Your manicotti with cheese is now ready to be enjoyed!

Preparing the sauce

The first step is to decide whether you want to use a store-bought marinara sauce or make your own. If you're short on time, a good-quality store-bought sauce can be a convenient option. However, if you want to elevate your manicotti, making your own sauce from scratch will add a personal touch and allow you to customize the flavours.

If you choose to make your own marinara sauce, start by gathering the necessary ingredients. You'll need tomatoes as the base—either fresh, ripe tomatoes or canned tomatoes will work. Additionally, you'll want to have some combination of the following: onions, garlic, olive oil, basil, oregano, thyme, bay leaves, salt, pepper, and any other herbs or spices of your choice.

To prepare the sauce, begin by heating a saucepan over medium heat. Add a generous amount of olive oil, and then sauté some finely chopped onions until they become translucent. Next, add minced garlic and continue cooking for a minute or two, stirring frequently. At this point, add your tomatoes. If using fresh tomatoes, you'll need to peel and deseed them before crushing or blending them into a sauce-like consistency. Canned tomatoes can be used whole, crushed, or diced, depending on your preference.

Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste, and add your chosen herbs and spices. Let the sauce simmer over medium-low heat for at least 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavours to meld. If the sauce becomes too thick, you can thin it out with a bit of water or vegetable broth. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.

Once your sauce is prepared, you can choose to add additional ingredients to enhance the flavour and texture. Some popular additions include cooked and crumbled Italian sausage, ground beef, cooked chicken, meatballs, or sautéed vegetables like zucchini, squash, or mushrooms. These additions will make your sauce heartier and even more delicious.

Finally, when you're happy with your sauce, it's ready to be combined with the manicotti. Remember to reserve some sauce to pour over the stuffed manicotti before baking, creating a rich and flavourful dish that your family and friends will love.

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Baking the manicotti

To bake the manicotti, preheat your oven to 350°F. Spread a layer of sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. You can use a store-bought marinara sauce or make your own. If you want to make your own, a simple recipe involves mixing the sauce with water and spreading it across the bottom of the baking dish.

Next, fill the uncooked manicotti shells with your cheese mixture. You can use a piping bag or a sandwich bag with the corner cut off to pipe the cheese mixture into the manicotti shells. If you want to make your own manicotti shells, you can use fresh homemade pasta or even refrigerated egg roll wrappers.

Once you've filled the manicotti shells, arrange them over the sauce in the baking dish. Top the pasta with the remaining sauce and cover the dish with aluminium foil. Bake the manicotti for 40-50 minutes, until bubbly. Then, remove the foil and sprinkle the manicotti with the remaining cheese. Bake for another 5-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted.

Let the manicotti stand for 5-10 minutes before serving. You can also make this dish ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to three days or freeze it for up to a month. To reheat, simply bake the manicotti until it's heated through and the sauce is bubbling.

Serving suggestions

Manicotti is a hearty and impressive vegetarian main dish that can be served as a complete meal. It goes well with Italian food, so you can add some bread and a salad or two on the side.

You can also add some vegetables to the manicotti itself. Finely diced sauteed broccoli, zucchini, yellow squash, or cooked greens can be added to the cheese filling. If you want to add some meat, cooked sausage crumbles, shredded cooked chicken, or tiny meatballs can be added to the filling mixture.

If you're making this dish for kids, you can add cooked spinach and grated zucchini to the cheese mixture. You can also roll up lasagna noodles and stuff them with the cheese mixture, instead of using manicotti shells.

Manicotti can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Individual portions can also be transferred to freezer containers and stored in the freezer.

Frequently asked questions