Loosely translating as 'big sleeve,' manicotti is the pasta lover's pasta. Strictly speaking, in Italy, manicotti is a crispy, filled crepe, but most of us are more familiar with the ridged, cannelloni-style pasta of the same name.
Manicotti is brilliantly versatile and absolutely delicious to eat. The perfect choice for a fix-and-bake type pasta dish, any of these recipes will make a handy and super-tasty addition to your weekly rotation.
1. Baked manicotti (h/t Diana Delafuente)This recipe is awesome. Apart from the amazing 3-cheese flavors, there are some really handy techniques to be picked up from the brilliant video. But beware, you'll be craving an Italian pasta feast as soon as you've watched it!
2. Homemade manicotti (h/t Skinny Taste)'Crepe' style manicotti here, and boy are they good! This clever recipe manages to make healthy and wholesome taste pretty indulgent. In a really, really good way!
3. Four-cheese and spinach manicotti If you’ve never made manicotti, this delicious, impressive weeknight meal answers the classic question: “How do I eat macaroni and cheese and still feel like an adult?” Manicotti shells are pasta tubes that you can stuff with anything, but this recipe calls for lots of cheese and spinach -- and it's easy to make in only three steps. Get the full recipe
here.
4. Pumpkin manicotti (h/t Foodie Crush)Pumpkin and pasta make a dreamy combination, and the delicious duo work brilliantly again in this lovely recipe that calls for fresh sage and nutmeg to softly scent the manicotti filling.
5. Manicotti with spicy sausage (h/t Taste of Home)Italian spicy sausage takes the lead in this hearty, make-it-tonight recipe for a punchy pasta dish that will go down a storm!
6. Eggplant manicotti The simple eggplant parmesan topping will make your whole kitchen smell like a little Italian bistro, and the decadent cheesy filling will impress even the pickiest eater. Get the full recipe
here.
7. Make-ahead cheese and roasted vegetable manicotti (h/t Oh My Veggies)You won't miss meat in this Mediterranean-inspired, roasted vegetable dish that manages to be rich, hearty and still a little healthy-tasting, all at the same time!
8. 5-ingredient Italian sausage manicottiSometimes less is more, and that is certainly the case with this incredibly easy five-ingredient Italian sausage manicotti. The flavor of the pork sausage combined with the subtle creaminess of the mozzarella and ricotta make this the perfect meal to whip up when you just can’t be bothered with endless chopping and whisking and other menial prep work but still want to enjoy a hearty home-cooked meal. Get the full recipe
here.
