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5.0 from 9 votes

Manicotti

This four-cheese manicotti recipe can be on the table in less than an hour! It's an easy (and vegetarian) weeknight dinner that strikes the perfect balance between cheesy and saucy. Recipe includes a how-to video!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 584 kcal
Course: Main Course , Dinner
Cuisine: Italian , American

Ingredients

  • 8 oz manicotti shells
  • 24 oz whole milk ricotta about 3 cups
  • 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese (note that you will need another cup of cheese for the topping)
  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 garlic cloves pressed
  • 3 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley plus additional for topping if desired (may substitute 1 Tablespoon dried parsley)
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon table salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
For Baking
  • 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
  • 2 cups marinara sauce homemade or store-bought (500ml)
  • Additional fresh parsley or parmesan for garnish optional

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 375F (190C). You will need a 13x9 casserole dish or similar sized dish for this recipe.
  2. Cook pasta according to package instructions in well-salted water except reduce cooking time by 1 minute (I cook my manicotti shells for 6 minutes). Immediately drain and rinse well under cold water to stop the cooking process.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, cream cheese, parmesan, egg, pressed garlic, parsley, basil, oregano, salt and pepper and stir until thoroughly combined.
  4. Transfer the filling to a large piping bag (this is ideal, but if you don’t have one a large ziploc bag with a small corner snipped or even a spoon will do the job).
  5. Layer 1 cup of marinara sauce into the bottom of a 13x9 casserole dish.
  6. Snip a hole in the end of the piping bag and pipe filling evenly into each manicotti.
  7. Arrange manicotti in baking dish and cover with another cup of marinara sauce.
  8. Top with mozzarella cheese. Lightly grease a piece of aluminum foil with butter or oil and cover the dish (greased side down!).
  9. Transfer to center rack of 375F (190C) preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes, then carefully remove foil and continue to bake until cheese is melty and mixture is bubbly (about 10 minutes longer).
  10. Remove from oven and serve warm, topped with fresh parsley or parmesan cheese, if desired.

Notes

  • Spinach is a nice addition and a good way to add some veggies to this dish. To add, reduce the ricotta to 15 oz. Thaw and dry well 10 oz of frozen spinach and stir this into the filling.
  • You can cook 1 lb of ground beef or sausage, drain well and cool slightly and then stir this into the cheese mixture for a meat manicotti, just know you will likely have leftover filling
  • Store tightly covered or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or place in oven safe dish, cover with foil and heat in 350F (175C) oven and bake until warmed through (time depends on how much you are reheating, typically 10-20 minutes).
  • Manicotti freezes well, and you can freeze before or after baking for up to 3 months. Cover tightly (I cover with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil) and freeze. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator then follow baking instructions in the recipe (may take longer since it is baked from cold or if manicotti is not completely thawed, but check at 30 minutes). TIP: Adding a bit of extra marinara helps keep reheated manicotti from drying out!

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 584kcal (29%) Carbohydrates 40g (13%) Protein 32g (64%) Fat 33g (51%) Saturated Fat 20g (100%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 9g Trans Fat 0.003g Cholesterol 141mg (47%) Sodium 1130mg (47%) Potassium 549mg (16%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 1650IU (33%) Vitamin C 9mg (10%) Calcium 551mg (55%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 584

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 584kcal 29%
Carbohydrates 40g 13%
Protein 32g 64%
Fat 33g 51%
Saturated Fat 20g 100%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 9g 45%
Trans Fat 0.003g 0%
Cholesterol 141mg 47%
Sodium 1130mg 47%
Potassium 549mg 12%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 1650IU 33%
Vitamin C 9mg 10%
Calcium 551mg 55%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.