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Baked Cheese-Stuffed Manicotti

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A comforting Italian-American dish, baked cheese-stuffed manicotti features tender pasta tubes filled with a rich ricotta cheese mixture, topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 manicotti shells
  • 2 cups ricotta cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 cups marinara sauce
  • Nonstick cooking spray or olive oil (for greasing baking dish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. Cook manicotti shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool.
  3. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth.
  4. Spoon the cheese mixture into a piping bag or zip-top bag with the tip cut off. Fill each manicotti shell carefully.
  5. Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Arrange the filled manicotti in a single layer on top.
  6. Pour remaining marinara sauce over the manicotti and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.
  7. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
  8. Let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional parsley if desired.

Notes

  • Make it ahead: assemble and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
  • Use store-bought or homemade marinara sauce.
  • Try adding spinach or ground meat to the cheese mixture for variation.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastyera.com/baked-cheese-stuffed-manicotti/