
0 from 6 votes
Make-Ahead Cheese & Roasted Vegetable Baked Manicotti
Roasted vegetables add flavor and a nutritional boost to traditional baked cheese manicotti. This recipe is perfect to make in advance--either refrigerate it for a day or freeze it for up to a month!
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 20 mins
Total Time
1 hr 40 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 575 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 8 oz. cremini mushrooms trimmed and quartered
- 1 small or baby eggplant, diced
- 1 small zucchini diced
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- salt + pepper to taste
- 1 package manicotti shells 14 shells
- 15 oz. ricotta cheese I use low fat or fat-free
- 1 egg beaten
- ½ c. shredded Parmesan cheese divided
- 1 c. shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese divided
- 2 c. jarred marinara sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Combine mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini, olive oil, salt and pepper in a large bowl; toss to coat. Transfer to rimmed baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking time, or until vegetables are softened and just starting to brown. Set aside.
- If you're planning on eating the manicotti the same day you make it, reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Otherwise, turn oven off.
- Cook manicotti shells al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and run under cold water until shells are cool enough to handle.
- While shells are boiling, in another large bowl, stir together ricotta, egg, salt and pepper. Fold in roasted vegetables, ¼ c. parmesan cheese, and ½ c. mozzarella cheese.
- Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 13 casserole dish (use a freezer-to-oven safe dish if freezing). Using a small spoon, carefully fill each manicotti shell with cheese and vegetable mixture. Place finished manicotti in baking dish. Once all manicotti are filled, top with remaining sauce and cheese.
Cup of Yum
To make right away:
- Cover casserole dish with foil. Bake manicotti at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, then remove foil and bake 10 minutes more.
Cup of Yum
To refrigerate:
- Cover casserole dish with foil and refrigerate for up to one day. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until heated through, then remove foil and bake 10 minutes more.
To freeze:
- Place plastic wrap directly on top of manicotti to minimize freezer burn, then cover casserole dish with lid. Freeze for up to 1 month. To bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees; remove lid and plastic wrap and cover with foil. Heat for an hour, then remove foil and bake about 15 minutes more or until manicotti is heated through and cheese has melted.
Notes
- If you don't have a freezer-to-oven baking dish, you can use a disposable aluminum baking tray instead.
Nutrition Information
Calories
575kcal
(29%)
Carbohydrates
22g
(7%)
Protein
43g
(86%)
Fat
36g
(55%)
Saturated Fat
21g
(105%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
12g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
153mg
(51%)
Sodium
1573mg
(66%)
Potassium
1110mg
(32%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
11g
(22%)
Vitamin A
1671IU
(33%)
Vitamin C
18mg
(20%)
Calcium
1078mg
(108%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 575
% Daily Value*
Calories | 575kcal | 29% |
Carbohydrates | 22g | 7% |
Protein | 43g | 86% |
Fat | 36g | 55% |
Saturated Fat | 21g | 105% |
Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
Monounsaturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
Cholesterol | 153mg | 51% |
Sodium | 1573mg | 66% |
Potassium | 1110mg | 24% |
Fiber | 4g | 16% |
Sugar | 11g | 22% |
Vitamin A | 1671IU | 33% |
Vitamin C | 18mg | 20% |
Calcium | 1078mg | 108% |
Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.