Nothing says comforting family dinner like cheesy, saucy baked manicotti. With the spirit of lasagna but the cheese-stuffed majesty of shells, this delightful delicacy features large tubes of pasta stuffed with a four-cheese mixture and blanketed in homemade meat sauce. It is the epitome of comfort food and will be a celebrated addition to Christmas dinner or a heartwarming weeknight meal any time of year!
How do you fill manicotti tubes?
Because you need to cook the manicotti pasta a little bit before attempting to stuff it, there is a risk of tearing the long tubes. It can also be tedious and messy using a spoon to scoop the creamy cheese filling into the pasta. The easiest way to get the pasta all the way filled is by using a pastry bag or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off. Simply squeeze the filling in until the pasta is stuffed and voilà!
Where do you find manicotti tubes?
Manicotti noodles can be found on the pasta aisle next to your other favorite shapes. If your store is out, no-boil lasagna noodles can save the day! Simply fill a large bowl or baking pan with boiling water and add 1 (9-ounce) box of no-boil lasagna noodles to soak until pliable, about 5 minutes. Move them around with a pair of tongs to keep them from sticking and to check on the softness. Remove them to drain on a clean dish towel. Pipe or spoon about ¼ cup of the filling onto one short end of each noodle and roll it up. Place it seam-side-down into the baking dish and continue with the recipe.
What sauce goes with manicotti?
This manicotti is blanketed in a deeply satisfying meat sauce made with lean ground beef and crushed tomatoes. Crumbled Italian sausage would also be scrumptious in this recipe! Most manicotti recipes call for a simple tomato sauce to go with the cheese-stuffed pasta for a hearty vegetarian main dish. If you don’t have time to make your own marinara sauce, use 4 cups of your favorite jarred pasta sauce.
