Southwestern Manicotti Recipes

MEATY MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook manicotti shells according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook sausage and beef over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Remove from the heat. Cool for 10 minutes., Drain shells and rinse in cold water. Stir the mozzarella cheese, cream cheese and salt into meat mixture. Spread 2 cups spaghetti sauce in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. , Stuff each shell with about 1/4 cup meat mixture; arrange over sauce. Pour remaining sauce over top. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. , Cover and bake at 350° for 40 minutes. Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until bubbly and heated through. 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°.

MEXICAN-STYLE CHICKEN MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook manicotti according to package directions. In a small bowl, combine the chicken, 1/4 cup salsa, ricotta cheese, olives, parsley, pimientos, green onion, garlic and pepper sauce. Drain manicotti; fill with chicken mixture. , Spread 1/4 cup salsa in an 8-in. square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with manicotti shells and the remaining 1/2 cyoo salsa. , Cover and bake at 400° for 20 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with Monterey Jack cheese and bake until cheese is melted and filling is heated through, 5-10 minutes longer.

MEXICAN CHICKEN MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook manicotti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the chicken, 1-1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, cheddar cheese, sour cream, half of the onion and 6 tablespoons chilies. , In another bowl, combine the soup, salsa, milk and remaining onion and chilies. Spread 1/2 cup in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., Drain manicotti and rinse in cold water; stuff each with about 1/4 cupful chicken mixture. Arrange over sauce in baking dish. Pour remaining sauce over shells., Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining Monterey Jack cheese. Bake 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

TASTY MEXICAN MANICOTTI

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook sausage and onion until sausage is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the beans, chili powder and cumin. Stuff into manicotti shells. , Place in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Combine tomato sauce and chilies if desired; pour over manicotti. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45 minutes or until heated through.

SOUTHWESTERN MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• In a bowl, combine the uncooked ground steak, Italian sausage, beans, chili powder and dried Italian seasoning.
• Spoon into uncooked manicotti shells; arrange in prepared baking dish.
• Combine water and salsa or picante sauce and pour over shells.
• Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Remove from refrigerator 40 minutes before baking.
• Preheat oven to 350*.
• Cover casserole and bake 1 hour or until meat is no longer pink.
• Uncover; spoon sour cream over the top and sprinkle with Monterey Jack cheese.
• Sprinkle with green onions and bake 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and bubbling.

MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• If using fresh spinach, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, and season generously with salt. Fill a medium bowl with ice water and season with salt. Boil the spinach until tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, (keep the water in the pot boiling), and immediately plunge the spinach into the ice water. Drain and squeeze the excess water from the spinach, and finely chop. Alternatively, if using thawed spinach, simply squeeze, and finely chop. Set aside.
• In the same large pot of boiling water, cook the manicotti shells according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and pat dry.
• Spread 1 cup of the marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Lightly beat the eggs in a medium bowl. Add the spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, and 1/3 cup of the grated cheese and mix until evenly combined. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, the nutmeg and pepper. Spoon the cheese mixture into the manicotti shells and line them up in the baking dish. Cover with the remaining 2 cups sauce. Scatter the remaining 2/3 cup grated cheese on top and dot with the butter.
• Bake for 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the herb sprigs and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 10 minutes.
• Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in 2 teaspoons salt and season with pepper to taste. Use right away, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
• Yield: 3 1/2 cups
• Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved.

SOUTHWESTERN STYLE MANICOTTI - VEGETARIAN

Steps:

• Prepare both kinds of beans according to package directions.
• Cook pasta to a little less than al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water til cool enough to handle.
• Mix cooked lentils, cooked black beans, diced fresh tomato, diced onion, salsa, and cumin in a medium sized bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees farenheit.
• Fill pasta with bean mixture and line up in a 13x9 baking dish that has been misted with olive oil.
• Cover filled pasta with both tins of diced tomatoes and sprinkle top with chopped cilantro.
• Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven about 30 mins or until bubbly.
• Removed from oven and serve.

SUSAN'S MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, 1/2 cup Parmesan, egg, sugar and parsley; season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
• Spread half the marinara in the bottom of a 9-by-13 inch baking dish. Fill each shell with ricotta mixture and arrange in an even layer in dish. Top with remaining 2 cups marinara. Cover with foil and bake until sauce is bubbling and shells are tender, about 40 minutes.
• Sprinkle remaining Parmesan over top, return to oven, and bake until cheese is browned in spots, about 10 minutes.

MEXICAN MANICOTTI

Steps:

• In bowl, mix uncooked beef, beans, chili powder, and oregano.
• Spoon into uncooked manicotti shells.
• Place in greased 13x9 baking pan.
• Mix water and sauce, pour over manicotti.
• Cover and refrigerate 8 hours.
• Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.
• Cover and bake at 350* for 1 hour.
• Uncover. Sprinkle with cheese, onions, and olives.
• Bake for 8 minutes more.
• Then add sour cream.