Best Spinach Manicotti Recipes

SPINACH CHEESE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• In a small skillet, saute onion in oil for 3 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Set aside. , In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, cream cheese, 4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and pepper; beat until smooth. Stir in onion mixture and spinach. Stuff into the manicotti shells., Pour half of the spaghetti sauce into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Arrange shells over sauce; top with remaining sauce., Cover and bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

SPINACH MANICOTTI WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring a pot of water to a boil and immerse spinach in the boiling water until dark green and softened, about 2 minutes. Drain and squeeze out excess moisture.
• Cook sausage in a skillet over medium heat until browned and crumbly, about 10 minutes, stirring often. Drain excess grease. Combine spinach and sausage in a bowl. Mix cottage cheese and 8 ounces of mozzarella cheese into sausage and spinach, stirring until filling is thoroughly combined.
• Use your fingers to stuff uncooked manicotti shells with stuffing. Lay stuffed manicotti into a baking dish, side by side, and pour both jars of sauce over manicotti.
• Bake in the preheated oven until manicotti are tender but still slightly firm to the bite and the filling is hot, 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Sprinkle remaining 4 ounces of mozzarella cheese over the dish, let the cheese melt, and serve.

SPINACH & CHEESE STUFFED MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350* F.
• Combine sauce and sausage in the same skillet sausage was cooked, keep warm.
• In a large bowl, mix spinach, cheeses, eggs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir together until well blended.
• Place about 2 cups sauce in a 9X13 inch casserole dish. Spread it around to cover the bottom.
• Now, to fill the manicotti. You can do this however you wish. You can use a pastry bag, or a zip-lock bag with a corner cut, or a spoon. I chose to use an old baby spoon (from when my daughter was a baby, the kind with the rubber temperature controlled end). I had fantastic results doing it that way. I highly recommend doing it that way. You may have to fill half, turn manicotti around and fill from the other end, as I did. Try to get as much filling in as possible, letting it over flow from the ends. Place the filled shell into the sauce-lined dish. Repeat with the remaining manicotti shells, and fill the dish with the stuffed shells, until you either run out of room, or shells or filling. I ran out of room first, I got twelve into my casserole dish. (I did have left over filling, which I froze.) You could also use two separate smaller dishes, and freeze one for another meal.
• Cover pasta with sauce, you don't have to use it all, just make sure all the exposed manicotti are covered in sauce, about 2 ½ cups. Place sliced mozzarella on top of sauce and sprinkle remaining ½ cup shredded cheese mix over the mozzarella. At this point, you can cover with foil and refrigerate until you're ready to bake, or you can cover with foil and place it in the oven immediately.
• Bake, covered with foil, 50 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 10 minutes.
• Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
• Tips:.
• It's perfectly fine if you want to use full fat versions of the cheeses, we just prefer the low fat and fat free versions.
• It's perfectly fine to leave the spinach out and turn this into just a cheese manicotti.

SPINACH AND CHEESE STUFFED MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Divide mozzarella cheese into 3 portions.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook manicotti in boiling water, stirring occasionally until softened slightly but still firm, about 7 minutes. Drain and rest in a bowl of cold water.
• Combine spinach, Alfredo sauce, Parmesan cheese, and 1 portion mozzarella cheese in a large bowl; mix well and season with salt and pepper. Spoon fill mixture into each manicotti shell. Divide stuffed shells evenly between two 9x13-inch baking dishes. Pour 1 jar spaghetti sauce over each baking dish and sprinkle with equal portions mozzarella cheese. Cover both baking dishes with aluminum foil.
• Bake in preheated oven until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly, about 45 minutes.

MAKE-AHEAD SPINACH MANICOTTI

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix ricotta, spinach, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley and seasonings. In another large bowl, mix spaghetti sauce and water; spread 1 cup into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., Fill uncooked manicotti shells with ricotta mixture; arrange over sauce. Pour remaining spaghetti sauce mixture over top. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Refrigerate, covered, overnight., Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake, uncovered, 40-50 minutes or until manicotti is tender. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked casserole. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake casserole as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.

SPINACH MANICOTTI WITH LEMON

Steps:

• Place the ricotta in a fine mesh strainer set over a bowl. Loosely cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate the ricotta for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Position a rack in the center of the oven.
• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lasagna sheets and stir with a large slotted spoon to ensure that the pasta does not stick as it cooks. Cook until still quite firm, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain the pasta and transfer to a large bowl (you'll use the empty pot later). Gently toss with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil to coat. (This is more pasta than you will need, but the extra noodles are backups for any that might break.)
• In a large saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, add the spinach, then sprinkle with salt and cook, stirring, just long enough to wilt, 30 to 45 seconds. Quickly remove the pan from the heat and transfer the spinach to a kitchen towel-lined plate to drain and cool.
• Return the medium pot to medium heat, then add the cream and garlic and bring to a gentle simmer, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the Worcestershire, hot sauce and 1/2 cup pecorino. Spoon enough of the sauce to lightly coat the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and set aside.
• In a large bowl, spread the ricotta out on the bottom and up the sides of the bowl (so the seasoning coats most of the cheese). Add the egg and sprinkle with salt. Mix to combine. Add pepper, the lemon zest, lemon juice, tarragon and the remaining 1/2 cup pecorino. Mix to combine. Add the sauteed spinach, reserving some for garnish. Add the allspice and combine thoroughly.
• Arrange the lasagna sheets on a clean, flat surface with the longer sides of the rectangles facing you. Place about 3 tablespoons ricotta on the edge of the sheet closest to you, leaving a little room on either end. Gently roll the pasta up into a tube away from you and place inside the prepared baking dish, seam-side down. Repeat with the remaining pasta and filling, taking care that the manicotti are snug in the baking dish.
• Cover the manicotti with about three-quarters of the sauce. (Keep the remaining sauce warm.) Place the baking dish on the center rack of the oven and bake until lightly browned and the filling is hot in the center when pierced with the tip of a knife, 15 to 20 minutes. Warm the remaining sauce and spoon it over the manicotti. Sprinkle the top with the reserved spinach and freshly grated Pecorino-Romano. Serve warm.

CHEESE SPINACH MANICOTTI

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute onion and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, wine, Italian seasoning, sugar and oregano. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally., Meanwhile, for filling, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Stir in the cottage cheese, spinach, Parmesan cheese, eggs and salt., Stuff cream cheese mixture into uncooked manicotti shells. Spread 1 cup sauce into a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spay. Arrange manicotti over sauce. Pour remaining sauce over top., Cover and bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until pasta is tender. Uncover; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

CHICKEN SPINACH MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Divide spinach in half; refrigerate one portion for another use. In a sieve or colander, drain remaining spinach, squeezing to remove excess liquid. Pat dry; place in a small bowl. Add chicken; set aside. , In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add broth and milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in the tomato sauce, basil, oregano, garlic powder and brown sugar; cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until heated through. , Meanwhile, stuff 1/4 cup chicken mixture into each uncooked manicotti shell. Spread 1/2 cup sauce into a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. Arrange manicotti over sauce; top with remaining sauce. , Cover and bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until manicotti shells are tender. Uncover; sprinkle with cheese. Bake 8-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

SPINACH MANICOTTI

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, 1-1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, spinach, sour cream, bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and onion powder. , Combine the tomato juice, salsa and crushed tomatoes; spread 1 cup sauce in an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Stuff uncooked manicotti with spinach mixture; arrange over sauce. Pour remaining sauce over manicotti., Cover and bake at 350° for 55 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake 15 minutes longer or until noodles are tender.

SPINACH CHEESE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• .In a skillet, saute onion and garlicin oil and set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta, cream cheese, half the mozzarella, half the parmesan, italian seasoning, salt, and pepper and beat until well mixed.
• Drain spinach with several paper towels and squeeze until spinach is well drained.
• Add spinach and onion to cheese mixture and mix well.
• Spoon this mixture into manicotti shells, using 1 teaspoon at a time.
• Be careful not to tear shells.
• Pour half of spaghetti sauce in bottom of 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Arrange shells over the sauce and top with remaining sauce.
• Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven , uncover and sprinkle remaining cheeses over top.
• Return to oven until cheese melts.

CHEESY BEEF AND SPINACH MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Grease two 9-inch baking pans.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat stirring with wooden spoon cook the ground beef or bulk sausage meat with the onion until browned breaking up the meat while cooking (about 10-12 minutes the meat should be lightly browned) drain fat.
• Add in garlic and cook, stirring for 2 minutes.
• Transfer to a bowl then mix in the drained spinach, Parmesan cheese and ricotta cheese; set aside to cool (about 10-15 minutes).
• When the ground beef is cool add in mozzarella cheese, eggs, seasoned salt and black pepper mix well to combine, at this point you may season with more salt and pepper if desired and if you want more garlic flavor add in some garlic powder to the mixture.
• Spread about 1/4 to 1/3 cup marinara sauce onto the bottom of each baking pan.
• Carefully stuff each noodle with the beef mixture then place in one layer in the baking dish (you should have 7 in each dish).
• FOR ONE PAN; drizzle about 1-1/2 cups (or more) marinara sauce over shells, sprinkle about 3/4 cup or more of mozzarella cheese over sauce, then sprinkle with 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese on top; repeat with remaining pan.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (oven rack to to lowest position).
• Cover each pan with foil and bake 25 minutes, uncover and continue baking for another 8 minutes (allow to sit for about 15 minutes before serving).

SPINACH AND MUSHROOM MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F.
• Cook manicotti noodles for 7 minutes, drain and rinse with cool water; set aside.
• Heat oil or butter in a large pan over about medium heat, sauté mushrooms and garlic till mushrooms are tender.
• Add spinach and continue cooking about 5 minutes, careful not to overcook mushrooms and garlic. Drain and set aside.
• Beat eggs lightly in a large bowl and ricotta cheese, basil and salt. Stir in mushroom mixture. If this ends up being a little too runny for stuffing your manicotti, you can use regular parmesan cheese like you.
• Keep in your fridge as a kind of filler to thicken it up a bit.
• Spread about a cup of sauce in the bottom of a large baking dish. Fill manicotti with mushroom/cheese mix place in dish and cover with sauce. Sprinkle the fresh parmesan cheese on top and cover with foil.
• Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and place bake in over for 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and lightly browned.

ULTIMATE CRAB AND SPINACH MANICOTTI WITH PARMESAN CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the sauce: in a saucepan over medium heat melt butter.
• Add in flour and whisk for about 3 minutes.
• Add in milk and half and half whisk over heat until bubbly and thickened.
• Add in the Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and Tabasco to taste; stir until the cheese melts.
• Set oven to 375 degrees.
• Butter a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
• In a bowl mix together crab, well drained spinach, ricotta, and Parmesan cheese, onions, egg, salt and pepper; mix well to combine.
• Fill each cooked shell with crab/cheese filling using clean hands.
• Place in a single layer in prepared baking dish.
• Cover with the Parmesan cheese sauce (does not have to cover completely!).
• Sprinkle with grated mozzeralla cheese (any amount desired).
• Bake uncovered for about 25-30 minutes (do not over bake!).

MEATY SPINACH MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook manicotti according to package directions. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan. Stir in the flour until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted; set aside. Drain manicotti; set aside. , In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the chicken, spinach, eggs, mozzarella cheese and 3/4 cup white sauce. Stuff into manicotti shells. , Spread 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce in each of two ungreased 13x9-in. baking dishes. Top with manicotti. Pour remaining spaghetti sauce over the top. , Reheat the remaining white sauce, stirring constantly. Pour over spaghetti sauce. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in the filling reads 160°. Sprinkle with parsley.

CHICKEN, SPINACH, AND ARTICHOKE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in manicotti and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until barely tender yet firm to the bite, about 5 minutes. Drain carefully and rinse with cool water.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• Cook chicken and onion in a medium-sized frying pan until chicken is no longer pink and broken into small pieces, 7 to 10 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add spinach, cream cheese, artichoke hearts, and 6 ounces of Italian cheese blend. Mix well and set aside.
• Combine milk, cottage cheese, cornstarch, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a food processor to make a smooth sauce. Pour sauce into a saucepan, add Parmesan cheese, and heat over medium heat until cheese has melted and sauce has thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Pour enough sauce into the bottom of the prepared pan to coat the bottom. Stuff each cooked manicotti shell with chicken mixture and place into the pan on top of sauce. Pour remaining sauce over stuffed manicotti in the pan and top with remaining 2 ounces Italian cheese blend. Cover the pan with a lid or aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, about 30 minutes.

SPINACH & GROUND MEAT MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Brown ground meat in skillet and drain.
• Combine spinach, ground meat, ricotta cheese, egg, parmesan cheese and garlic powder.
• Spoon this mixture into manicotti shells and place in 13 x 9 inch dish (sprayed with Pam).
• Pour Emeril's sauce over the stuffed manicotti shells and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake uncovered in preheated 350 oven for 30 minute or until heated through.

FRESH SPINACH AND MUSHROOM MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook manicotti according to package directions and drain.
• Rinse with cold water, drain and set aside.
• Sauté mushrooms and garlic in ht oil in a large skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes.
• Add spinach and saute 5 more minutes.
• Remove skillet from heat.
• Drain any fat off the spinach and garlic.
• Stir together eggs, ricotta cheese, basil and salt in a large bowl add mushroom mixture stirring until blended.
• Spread 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce in a lightly greased 13x9-inch baking dish.
• Squeeze or spoon spinach mixture into shells.
• Arrange stuffed shells in dish.
• Pour remaining marinara sauce over the top evenly over shells.
• Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
• Bake covered at 350°F for 30 minutes.
• Uncover and bake for 10 more minutes.

SAUSAGE SPINACH MANICOTTI

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, spinach, Parmesan cheese, egg, oregano and garlic; stuff into uncooked manicotti shells. Place in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., Crumble sausage into a large skillet; cook over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce; pour over manicotti. Pour water along sides of pan. , Cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Bake 5-8 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

SPINACH CHICKEN MANICOTTI

Steps:

• In a small skillet, saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic, cook 1 minute longer. In a large bowl, combine the onion mixture, chicken, spinach, ham, cheese, egg whites, basil, pepper and nutmeg; set aside. , Cook manicotti shells according to package directions. Meanwhile, for sauce, combine flour and broth in a large saucepan until smooth; gradually stir in the milk, salt, nutmeg, pepper and cayenne. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Spoon 1 cup into chicken mixture. Add cheese to remaining sauce. , Spread 1 cup sauce into a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Drain shells; stuff with chicken mixture. Arrange over sauce. Drizzle with remaining sauce. Cover and bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly and heated through.

VEAL OR TURKEY AND SPINACH MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Defrost the spinach in the microwave, wring dry and separate.
• Heat the EVOO in a pan over medium-high heat. Pat the meat dry, and then add to the pan and lightly brown while you crumble. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the onions and garlic and cook 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Deglaze the pan with the wine, stir and add 2 cups tomato puree. Stir, reduce heat to a low simmer and simmer 15 to 20 minutes.
• Pour the remaining 2 cups tomato puree into a casserole.
• Melt the butter in saucepot over medium to medium-high heat. Whisk in the flour for 1 minute. Then add the milk, bring to a bubble, season with salt, pepper and nutmeg, and cook until it's thick enough to coat a spoon. Stir in the soft cheese.
• Working over the casserole dish, fill the manicotti with the meat using a spoon. Top the manicotti with the white sauce and Parmesan. Cover with parchment and foil and cool or bake off. Bake, covered, at 375 degrees F for 40 minutes from fresh, or bake 1 hour from cold to heat through and cook the pasta. Then uncover and bake until brown and bubbly, about 20 minutes more.