This Spinach and Cheese Manicotti is a great make-ahead party recipe. I like to spice it up with Italian sausage and crushed red pepper.
I have also subbed fresh basil for the parsley and fresh minced garlic in the ricotta instead of the powder.
I serve it with Italian bread and a tossed salad.
Whether you make those alterations or not this dish is restaurant quality. It can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator overnight. Very filling.
Be sure to follow Foodgasm Recipes on Pinterest for more great recipes.
Spinach and Cheese Manicotti
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
Very easy to make but a great Italian dish your family will surely enjoy!
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Spinach and Cheese Manicotti
Servings: 6
Calories: 325 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 10 ounce package frozen spinach, thawed completely & squeezed dry
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 8 slices mozzarella cheese
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 box 12 to 14 shells manicotti noodles, uncooked
- 3 to 4 cups marinara sauce
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, mix spinach, cheeses, eggs, salt and pepper. Stir together until well blended. Place about 1 1/2 cups of marinara sauce in a 9×13-inch pan. Spread it around to cover the bottom.
- 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.
- Cover the pasta with marinara sauce, using about 2 1/2 cups of sauce. Sprinkle 1/2 cup mozzarella 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.
- Bake, covered with foil, 50 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes.
Enjoy!
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Chicken Spaghetti – Easy To Make, Tastes Great
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