Manicotti Sausage Cheese Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine sausage and cottage cheese. Stuff into uncooked manicotti shells. Place in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with marinara sauce. , Cover and bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into the center of a shell reads 160°., Uncover; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake 8-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Freeze option: Transfer individual portions of cooled manicotti to freezer containers; freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Transfer to a microwave-safe dish and microwave on high, stirring occasionally; add a little spaghetti sauce if necessary.

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large saucepot over medium heat. Cook the sausage, breaking it up into small pieces, until browned and caramelized, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the sausage to a paper towel-lined plate and reserve for the filling.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the pot and cook the onion until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute (the tomato paste will turn a deep maroon color). Add the crushed tomatoes, sugar, bay leaves, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a pinch of black pepper. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low and cook for 30 minutes. Melt the butter into the sauce, remove the bay leaves and stir in 1/3 cup of basil. Remove the sauce from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature, 40 minutes.
• For the filling: mix together the ricotta, reserved sausage, the remaining 1/3 cup basil, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 1 1/2 cups Parmesan, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste. Fold in 1 cup of the cooled tomato sauce. Place the filling in a large piping bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the manicotti shells until they have softened slightly but still hold their tubular shape, 5 minutes.
• Pour half of the tomato sauce into a broiler-proof 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Fill each shell with the ricotta mixture. Place the filled shells in the baking dish. Pipe any extra filling along the ends of the shells in the dish. Top with the remaining tomato sauce and sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups mozzarella and 1 cup Parmesan over the top. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake until the sauce begins to bubble, 40 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven, remove the foil and increase the oven to 425 degrees F. Put the manicotti back into the oven to bake until the cheese is browned and bubbling, about 10 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

Steps:

• Cook manicotti according to package directions. Meanwhile, crumble sausage into a nonstick skillet; add the red pepper and onion. Cook over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain. Drain manicotti; set aside., In a bowl, combine the sausage mixture, egg whites, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, parsley, basil, fennel and pepper. Stuff into manicotti shells. Combine spaghetti sauce and water; spread 1/2 cup in an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Arrange shells over sauce; top with remaining sauce., Cover and bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, spinach, Parmesan cheese, egg, oregano and garlic; stuff into uncooked manicotti shells. Place in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., Crumble sausage into a large skillet; cook over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce; pour over manicotti. Pour water along sides of pan. , Cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Bake 5-8 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• To prepare the Italian Sausage Marinara
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet, add the diced onions, cook 3-4 minutes then add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
• Add the sausage and cook through.
• Add the red wine, tomato paste, diced tomatoes and tomato sauce.
• Add the kosher salt, black pepper, fresh basil, parsley and oregano.
• Reduce to low, cover and simmer 20-30 minutes.
• To prepare the Three Cheese Manicotti
• Bring a large pot of water to boil.
• Add the manicotti shells and cook 4-5 minutes, drain, then set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, parmesan, basil, parsley and oregano.
• Place this mixture in a piping bag, or plastic bag with a cut corner.
• Pipe the cheese mixture into the manicotti shells.
• Pour half of the Italian Sausage Marinara in a casserole dish.
• Layer the manicotti shells on top.
• Pour the remaining sauce over the shells.
• Top with the remaining cup of mozzarella cheese.
• Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Steps:

• Brown sausage, cool slightly.
• Mix cheeses, sausage, olives, onions in large bowl.
• Stuff hard manicotti shells with above mixture (do not cook shells first or they will be near impossible to stuff).
• Place stuffed shells in 9x13 Pyrex/glass baking dish.
• Spread remaining sausage/cheese mixture over shells.
• Pour spaghetti sauce over top. You may only need 1 1/2 cans of sauce depending on the pan size.
• Pour 1/2 can water along sides.
• Cover and refrigerate over night--this wait period will help the shells soak up water and get stoft.
• Bake at 350°F for 40-50 minutes or until bubbly.