MANICOTTI WITH CREAMED CHICKEN AND ALMONDS

Manicotti with Creamed Chicken and Almonds image

Provided by @MakeItYours

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, (minced)
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup heavy cream, (divided)
1/2 cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 cups diced cooked chicken
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, (thawed and squeezed in paper towels to get rid of excess water)
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg, (lightly beaten)
1 box manicotti shells, (cooked according to package directions.)
3 tablespoons sliced almonds

Steps:

Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add onion and cook for 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 more minute.
Sprinkle flour over onion mixture. Stir and cook for 1 minute.
Gradually whisk in the chicken broth. When thickened, whisk in 1/2 cup of heavy cream.Simmer for 5 minutes
Remove from heat and stir in Gruyere cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add crushed red pepper flakes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
In a large bowl, combine chicken, spinach, ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and egg. Stir to mix well. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.Add in 1/2 cup of the sauce. Stir.
Stuff manicotti shells with the chicken mixture. Arrange manicotti in baking dish.
Mix the remaning 1/4 cup of heavy cream into the gruyere sauce and pour over the manicotti.
Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese and the almonds. Cover and bake 25 minutes. Uncover and bake another 5 minutes.