Best Creamy Pesto Manicotti Recipes

CHEESY PESTO MANICOTTI

Steps:

• In a food processor add: fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, 3 garlic cloves, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper. Pulse until ingredients are chopped.
• With the food processor on low blend, slowly pour the olive oil through the pour spout into the chopped ingredients, until fully combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. (See note #4)
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cook manicotti pasta al dente according to package instruction. Do not overcook or they will fall apart when stuffing. Drain and set aside (you can add a touch of olive oil if they begin to stick to each other)
• In a large bowl add: 12oz ricotta cheese, 1 cup shredded mozzarella, 1 cup grated parmesan, 1 large egg, 3/4 cup of freshly made pesto, and 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes. Using a silicone spatula, mix all the ingredients until they are fully combined.
• In a baking dish, add 3/4 of the red sauce to the bottom of the dish and spread it out evenly, set aside. (See note #5)
• Using a gallon zip lock bag, spoon in the cheesy pesto mixture into the bag and push it all to one corner. Cut a hole in the bottom corner of the bag that will fit the inside circle of the manicotti. Grab an al dente cooked manicotti, insert the tip of the bag inside, squeeze until the manicotti is filled, then place the manicotti in the red sauce inside the baking dish. Repeat until all manicotti are filled.
• Once all the manicotti are filled, drizzle with the remaining 1/4 of the red sauce, the remaining 1/4 cup of the pesto. Top with 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese and 3 tbsp of parmesan cheese.
• Bake for 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. If you want the cheese more browned, broil for a few seconds keeping an eye not to burn it. Carefully remove from the oven, top with fresh basil, and serve.

MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook manicotti in boiling water until done. Drain, and rinse with cold water.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, and 1/2 cup Parmesan, eggs, parsley, and salt and pepper. Mix well.
• Pour 1/2 cup sauce into an 11x17 inch baking dish. Fill each manicotti shell with 3 tablespoons cheese mixture, and arrange over sauce . Pour remaining sauce over top, and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Bake 45 minutes, or until bubbly.

CREAMY CHEESE-STUFFED MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook manicotti according to package directions, being careful to not overcook (or they'll split while you're filling them); drain.
• Sauce: cook onion and garlic in butter until tender; stir in flour and blend well, then add milk all at once; Cook and stir till thickened and bubbly; add swiss cheese and wine; stir until cheese is melted.
• Combine egg, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley, lemon peel and nutmeg.
• Fill manicotti with ricotta mixture (I use a small teaspoon to do this); arrange in a 12x7x2 inch baking dish.
• Pour sauce over the filled shells; cover and bake in a 350° oven for 35 to 40 minutes.

PESTO CHICKEN MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Prepare manicotti as directed and squeeze water out of spinach.
• When pasta is done, drain and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Mix together ricotta, 1/2 cup parm, and egg substitute.
• Stir in remaining ingredients, except tomato sauce.
• Spoon cheese mixture into shells and lay into a pan.
• Cover with tomato sauce and sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup Parm.
• Cover and bake 20 minute.
• Remove cover and bake add. 15 minute.

PESTO-CHICKEN MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, mix pasta sauce, water and garlic powder. In ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish, spread about one-third (1 cup) of the pasta sauce mixture.
• In medium bowl, sprinkle chicken tenders with Italian seasoning. Stuff chicken into uncooked manicotti shells. Place shells on pasta sauce in baking dish. Pour remaining pasta sauce mixture evenly over shells, covering completely.
• Cover with foil. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until shells are tender. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered 2 to 4 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with tomato. Serve with pesto.