Manicotti
Total Time
1 hour and 5 minutes
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Rating
4.67 out of 5 stars
(9)
Ingredients
6 servings
- 12 dried manicotti shells*
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup frozen chopped spinach, (thawed and squeezed dry)
- 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, (divided)
- 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, (minced)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Dash of crushed red pepper flakes
- Pinch ground nutmeg, (optional)
- 25 oz jar marinara sauce, (divided (can use homemade marinara)
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped basil, (for garnish)
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Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 2
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the manicotti shells and cook 2 minutes fewer than the package directions. Do not overcook the shells. You want them to be slightly undercooked, so they are easy to fill. They will finish cooking in the oven.
Step 3
Use a colander to drain and rinse with cold water. Lay the shells in a single layer on a clean towel or on a cooling rack.
Step 4
In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, egg, spinach, 1 cup of the mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes.
Step 5
Use a piping bag to fill each manicotti with the cheese mixture. If you don’t have a piping bag, you can use a gallon-size freezer bag, use scissors to snip the corner of the bag.
Step 6
Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and spread 1 cup of marinara sauce over the bottom.
Step 7
Arrange the stuffed manicotti in a single layer in the baking dish.
Step 8
Pour the remaining marinara over the manicotti and top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
Step 9
Lightly grease a piece of foil and cover the baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until heated through and bubbly.
Step 10
To brown the cheese, turn on the broiler and bake for 1 to 2 more minutes, keeping a close eye, until the cheese is golden brown.
Step 11
Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh basil. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Step 12
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