Slow Cooker Two Meat Manicotti Recipes

NO-BOIL SLOW-COOKER MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Heat dressing in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and kale; cook, stirring constantly, 5 min. or until mushrooms are tender. Drain.
• Mix egg, Neufchatel and ricotta in medium bowl until blended. Add dry seasonings, and 1/4 cup each mozzarella and Parmesan; mix well. Stir in mushroom mixture. Spoon into resealable plastic bag.
• Cut large piece off one bottom corner of bag; squeeze Neufchatel mixture into both ends of each manicotti shell.
• Spread 1/2 cup pasta sauce onto bottom of 6-qt. slow cooker sprayed with cooking spray; cover with 7 manicotti. Top with 1/2 cup of the remaining pasta sauce and 1/4 cup of the remaining mozzarella. Cover with layers of remaining manicotti, pasta sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan, then cover with lid.
• Cook on LOW 4 to 6 hrs. (or on HIGH 2 to 3 hrs.).

BEEF AND CHEESE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Heat a heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, onion and ground beef. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until the meat browns and the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and cool.
• Brush 1 teaspoon of oil over a large baking sheet. Cook the manicotti in a large pot of boiling salted water until slightly softened, but still very firm to the bite, about 4 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the manicotti from the pot to the oiled baking sheet and cool.
• Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, 1 1/2 to 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan, and parsley. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper to taste, and mix. Stir the cooled meat mixture into the cheese mixture.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brush the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil over a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Spoon 1 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. Fill the manicotti with the cheese-meat mixture. Arrange the stuffed pasta in a single layer in the prepared dish and spoon the remaining sauce over.
• Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese, then the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan over the stuffed pasta. Dot entire dish with the butter pieces. Bake the manicotti uncovered until heated through and the sauce bubbles on the sides of the dish, about 30 to 35 minutes. Let the manicotti stand 5 minutes and serve.

CHEESY GROUND BEEF MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook and drain manicotti as directed on package using minimum cooking time (cooking for the minimum time helps prevent the shells from tearing while filling).
• Meanwhile, in 10-inch skillet, cook beef, onion and garlic over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in pasta sauce.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• Squeeze thawed spinach to drain; spread on paper towels and pat dry. In medium bowl, mix spinach, cottage cheese, mushrooms, 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, the nutmeg and pepper.
• In baking dish, spread 1 cup of the beef mixture. Fill manicotti shells with spinach mixture. Place shells on beef mixture in dish. Pour remaining beef mixture evenly over shells, covering shells completely. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese.
• Cover and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 20 to 25 minutes longer or until hot and bubbly.

SLOW-COOKER CHEESY CHICKEN MANICOTTI

Steps:

• In medium bowl, mix chicken, ricotta cheese, garlic salt and red pepper flakes; stir in 1/4 cup of the basil. Spoon into quart-sized resealable food-storage plastic bag. Cut 3/4 inch tip off bag. Pipe filling into manicotti shells.
• Spray 5-quart oval slow cooker with cooking spray. In medium bowl, mix pasta sauce and water. Spread about one-third of the sauce mixture in slow cooker. Place 7 of the filled manicotti shells in pasta sauce. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Spoon another one-third of the sauce mixture over shells. Top with remaining 7 filled manicotti shells; sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining one-third of sauce mixture.
• Cover; cook 2 to 3 hours on High heat setting or until shells are tender. Serve with remaining 1/4 cup basil.