Creamy Pesto Manicotti Recipes

CHEESY PESTO MANICOTTI

Steps:

• In a food processor add: fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, 3 garlic cloves, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper. Pulse until ingredients are chopped.
• With the food processor on low blend, slowly pour the olive oil through the pour spout into the chopped ingredients, until fully combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. (See note #4)
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cook manicotti pasta al dente according to package instruction. Do not overcook or they will fall apart when stuffing. Drain and set aside (you can add a touch of olive oil if they begin to stick to each other)
• In a large bowl add: 12oz ricotta cheese, 1 cup shredded mozzarella, 1 cup grated parmesan, 1 large egg, 3/4 cup of freshly made pesto, and 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes. Using a silicone spatula, mix all the ingredients until they are fully combined.
• In a baking dish, add 3/4 of the red sauce to the bottom of the dish and spread it out evenly, set aside. (See note #5)
• Using a gallon zip lock bag, spoon in the cheesy pesto mixture into the bag and push it all to one corner. Cut a hole in the bottom corner of the bag that will fit the inside circle of the manicotti. Grab an al dente cooked manicotti, insert the tip of the bag inside, squeeze until the manicotti is filled, then place the manicotti in the red sauce inside the baking dish. Repeat until all manicotti are filled.
• Once all the manicotti are filled, drizzle with the remaining 1/4 of the red sauce, the remaining 1/4 cup of the pesto. Top with 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese and 3 tbsp of parmesan cheese.
• Bake for 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. If you want the cheese more browned, broil for a few seconds keeping an eye not to burn it. Carefully remove from the oven, top with fresh basil, and serve.

CREAMY PESTO MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Combine 1/4 cup of the Mozzarella cheese and the next 8 ingredients (Mozzarella - garlic) in a food processor, and process until creamy.
• Prepare Manicotti according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, wash and squeeze all the water out of the spinach. When pasta is cooked, drain and set aside. Preheat oven to 350°.
• Spoon the cheese mixture into the manicotti shells and lay in a 9x13 pan or a pan large enough to hold all of the stuffed manicotti.
• Cover with tomato sauce and sprinkle with the grated Parmesan cheese. Cover and bake 20 minutes.
• *use shells or the long Manicotti strips.

PESTO CHICKEN MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Prepare manicotti as directed and squeeze water out of spinach.
• When pasta is done, drain and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Mix together ricotta, 1/2 cup parm, and egg substitute.
• Stir in remaining ingredients, except tomato sauce.
• Spoon cheese mixture into shells and lay into a pan.
• Cover with tomato sauce and sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup Parm.
• Cover and bake 20 minute.
• Remove cover and bake add. 15 minute.

ARTICHOKE MANICOTTI IN PESTO CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking apray.
• Cook the manicotti shells according to the package directions, then drain.
• Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the artichoke hearts, ricotta, mozzarella, and oregano and process until smooth. Spoon the mixture into the manicotti shells and place the shells side by side in the prepared pan. Set aside.
• Place the pine nuts in a small dry skillet and toast them until golden brown, about 3 minutes, shaking the pan frequently to prevent burning. Transfer the nuts to a food processor, add the basil, heavy cream, oil, parmesan, and garlic, and process until smooth. Pour over the stuffed manicotti in the pan.
• Bake the manicotti until the sauce is bubbly and the top is golden brown, about 25 minutes. Top with extra parmesan before serving if desired.

CREAMY CHICKEN MANICOTTI

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in the sour cream, parsley, salt and pepper. Stir in chicken. (If you want a creamier texture, place the cream cheese, sour cream and chicken in a food chopper) In a small skillet, cook onion in butter until tender; add to chicken mixture. Stuff into manicotti shells. (To make this easier, put mixture into a baggie, seal it up, cut the tip off of corner of bag and pipe into tube.).
• In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour and salt until smooth. Gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in 2-1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese just until melted.
• Spread about 1/2 cup cheese sauce in each of two greased 11-in. x 7-in. x 2-in. dishes. Top with stuffed shells and remaining sauce.
• Cover and bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until bubbly and cheese is melted. Yield: 7 servings.