Manicotti Recipe
This manicotti recipe is Italian sausage with three kinds of cheese, stuffed into pasta then covered with sauce and baked to perfection. A comfort food classic that's great for feeding a large crowd!
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoonsolive oil
- 1 pounditalian sausage (hot or mild, casings removed)
- ½ cuponion (finely chopped)
- 2 teaspoonsminced garlic
- 15 ouncesricotta cheese
- 1egg
- 1 cupmozzarella cheese (shredded)
- ½ cupparmesan cheese (finely grated)
- ¾ teaspoondried italian seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 ½ cupsmarinara sauce
- 12manicotti shells
- 1 ½ cupsmozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoonschopped parsley
- cooking spray
Directions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9"x13" baking dish with cooking spray.
For the filling
- 1
Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Place the sausage in the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes, breaking up the meat into small pieces.
- 2
Add the onions to the pan. Cook for an additional 4-5 minutes or until onions are softened and sausage is browned and cooked through.
- 3
Add the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat.
- 4
Place the ricotta cheese, egg, mozzarella, parmesan, Italian seasoning and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Stir to combine.
- 5
Add the meat mixture to the ricotta mixture. Stir until well mixed.
For assembly
- 1
Cook the manicotti in salted boiling water for 1-2 minutes less than the package directions state. Drain and cool slightly.
- 2
Spread 1 cup of the marinara sauce over the bottom of the pan.
- 3
Use a spoon or piping bag to fill each manicotti with the meat and cheese mixture.
- 4
Arrange the manicotti in a single layer in the pan. Pour the rest of the sauce over the top.
- 5
Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top, then bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and browned.
- 6
Sprinkle with parsley, then serve.