Ingredients
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8 ounces manicotti, uncooked about 14 pieces
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26 ounces spaghetti sauce, approx. 3 cups
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1 cup water
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15 ounces ricotta cheese, approx. 2 cups
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8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded approx. 2 cups
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1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated (we prefer the three cheese blend of asiagio,parm and romano)
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2 tablespoons parsley, chopped fresh
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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1 lb Italian sausage (can sub assorted veggies for sausage if desired such as peppers, zucchini, aubergine, etc)
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1 (7 ounce) can mushrooms, sliced and drained
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1 egg
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garlic, to taste
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1 teaspoon italian seasoning
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salt, to taste
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pepper, to taste
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1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400°F.
- Cook thoroughly sausage and mushrooms (or saute assorted veggies if making veggie version) with garlic,italian seasoning and salt and pepper to taste.
- In saucepan, combine spaghetti sauce and water; heat to boiling, stirring frequently.
- Reduce heat; keep warm.
- In bowl, stir together cheeses, parsley, egg, salt and pepper; spoon into uncooked pasta tubes.
- Pour 1 cup sauce on bottom of 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish; arrange filled pasta in single layer over sauce.
- Pour remaining sauce over pasta; sprinkle with cheese if desired and cover with foil.
- Bake 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Remove foil; bake 5 minutes longer.
- Serve -pasta and filling will be HOT!
- Enjoy!
- To make ahead and freeze:
- MAKE AHEAD DIRECTIONS: Prepare as directed above; cool 30 minutes.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap; then foil.
- Freeze up to 2 months.
- Thaw in refrigerator overnight (casserole is too dry if heated from frozen state)May want to add a small amount of additional moisture- water or sauce.
- Bake at 350°F 60 minutes or until hot and bubbly.