Homemade Manicotti Recipe ( a step by step guide)
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Make manicotti from scratch with light, homemade manicotti crepes (crepselle) instead of pasta shells. It’s filled with creamy ricotta cheese, topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella. This dish is simple enough for a family dinner but special enough for guests.
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What makes homemade manicotti speical
Ingredients You Will Need
Ingredient List
- Whole wheat flour or all-white flour
- All-purpose white flour
- Eggs
- Olive oil
- Butter or olive oil
- Milk or water
- Ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
- Marinara sauce
Step-by-step instructions for manicotti crepes and filling
Step 1. Whisk the eggs and milk together in a small mixing bowl to make the batter for the crepes.
Step 2. Mix in the flour with a wooden spoon and then stir in the melted butter, stir until the batter is smooth.
Step 3. Place the batter in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes to thicken it.
Step 4. While the crepe batter chills, combine ricotta with the eggs and parmesan cheese.
Step 5. Heat an 8-inch skillet or crepe pan over medium-low heat and coat it with olive oil. Add 1/8 cup of the batter to the pan and swirl it around so that it will cover the bottom of the pan.
Step 6. Cook for one to two minutes, carefully flip the crepe over, and cook for another minute or two longer. Remove the crepes from the pan as they are cooked and stack them on a plate.
Step 7. Lay the Italian crepes on a flat work surface and add 1/3 cup of cheese.
Step 8. Pour half of the spaghetti sauce into a casserole dish, and place the filled crepes on top in a single layer.
Step 9. Place the filled crepe in a single layer in a baking dish over a layer of sauce and cover them with more marinara sauce. Cover the casserole dish, and bake until bubbly. Remove the cover and top with mozzarella cheese pop it back into the oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese.
Tips & Tricks
- As the manicotti crepes complete the cooking process, stack them on a plate separated with parchment or wax paper to keep them from sticking together.
- When you are cooking the crepes, make sure the pan is evenly coated with oil, so they don’t stick to the pan. Add more oil as needed.
- Make a double batch of this recipe for a large crowd. Manicotti reheats easily and it’s perfect to have on hand for a busy weeknight.
How to Make Homemade Manicotti Ahead of Time
Manicotti crepes are perfect for prepping in advance. They store well, even in the freezer, and make the final assembly fast and stress-free.
Crepes – Make the manicotti crepes ahead of time and stack them with wax paper between each layer. crepe. Wrap tightly in foil or palce in a reusable freezer bag.
Filling – Mix the filling ingredients and refrigerate for up to one day. If you want to prep earlier, leave out the egg and store in the fridge for a few days.
Assemble – Assemble the manicotti without the mozzarella topping. over and refrigerate for up to one day.
Serving Suggestions
Serve homemade manicotti with a fresh salad on the side; try a kale caesar, zucchini ribbon salad, arugula salad or with a side of eggplant meatballs.
This recipe is perfect for feeding a crowd! Use the recipe scale button on the recipe card to double or triple the recipe. Here’s what one reader had to say. . .
“I made this and the quantity in question (60). It came out perfect! Everyone loved the manicotti. I’m so glad I found your recipe!” – Rita
Recommended Equipment
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Buy Now → How to Store Leftovers
- Store leftover manicotti in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- To reheat, cover the dish and place it in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes.
Recipe Variations
There are plenty of ways to make this dish your own. Here are a few easy ways to switch it up:
Vegetables – Add 1 cup of sauteed vegetales such as zucchini, bell peppers, eggplant, spinach, or mushrooms to the cheese mixture before stuffing the crepes.
Sauce – Try a different sauce such as Alfredo or blush sauce.
Meat – Add 1/4 to 1/2 pound of cooked ground beef, pork, chicken, turkey or Italian sausage to the filling or make meat sauce or bolognese sauce instead of marinara.
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Recipe FAQs
Homemade manicotti uses fresh ingredients and is lighter in texture and more flavorful.
In addition to tomato-based marinara, Alfredo, pink sauce, meat sauce or bolognese are great options too.
This version is vegetarian and filled with cheese. This is a vegetarian dish as long as the sauce does not contain meat.
You can, but homemade Italian crepes are much better tasting, they are lighter and more flavorful.
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Click on serving size to scale this recipe
Homemade Manicotti
Ingredients
- 2 cups Marinara sauce
For the crepes
- 3 Eggs
- 3 tablespoons Butter melted
- 1 1/2 cups Milk
- 1/2 cup Whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup White flour
For The Filling
- 1 pound Ricotta cheese
- 1 Egg
- 1/2 pound Mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/8 cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Make the batter: whisk 3 Eggs, and 1 1/2 cups Milk to a mixing bowl
- Gradually stir in 1/2 cup Whole wheat flour and 1/2 cup White flour. Once the flour and milk are combinred add 3 tablespoons Butter (melted) and stir.
- At this point, the batter will be thin; refrigerate the batter for 20 to 30 minutes to thicken it.
- While the crepe batter is chilling, combine 1 pound Ricotta cheese and 1 Egg, in a bowl.
- Make the crepes: Heat olive oil an 8-inch skillet or crepe pan over medium to low heat, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees f.
- Once the oil is hot, add 1/8 cup of the batter to the pan and swirl it around so that the bottom of the pan is covered with batter.
- Cook the batter for one to two minutes and carefully flip it over and cook for another minute or two. Remove the crepes from the pan as they are cooked and stack them on a plate.
- Lay the pasta crepes on a flat work surface and add 1/3 cup of cheese mixture. Roll the crepes up.
- Add a layer of sauce in the casserole dish and place the stuffed crepes on top.
- Cover the casserole dish lightly and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the cover, sprinkle on the mozzarella cheese and bake until the cheese melts.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used
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These turned out sooo good! My kids kept asking for more! Will be adding to our menu rotation for sure.
I am glad you liked them!