Easy Manicotti Recipe

This easy manicotti recipe can be changed and used for other noodles such as lasagna or stuffed shells. The addition of frozen spinach makes this a great spinach manicotti recipe but it can be left out if desired. You can change the recipe up a bit by making lasagna roll ups, directions are below.

1 box manicotti noodles
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 Cups cottage cheese
ž Cup grated parmesan cheese
2 Tablespoons parsley
1 egg, beaten
pinch of salt and pepper
1/2-1 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed
jar of spaghetti sauce

Bring a pot of water to boil and add a pinch of salt. Cook noodles and prepare cheese mixture. Squeeze the excess water out of your thawed spinach. Add to mixing bowl. Continue to add mozzarella, cottage and parmesan cheese. Stir in parsley, egg, spinach and season with salt and pepper. Stir together to combine.

When noodles are cooked, allow to cool slightly so you can handle them. In a casserole dish, pour a small amount of spaghetti sauce on bottom of pan just to cover. With small spoon or hands add cheese mixture into noodles. Line in casserole dish. Continue to fill noodles.
Top with spaghetti sauce and more mozzarella cheese, if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

~If you are using large shells follow recipe as above stuffing shells instead.

Easy Lasagna Recipe

It is very simple to change this easy manicotti recipe into lasagna. Cook your noodles and prepare cheese mixture as described above. Pour a small bit of spaghetti sauce on bottom of pan. Layer noodles, cheese mixture and spaghetti sauce. Continue making layers until mixture is gone. Bake 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

lasagna

Lasagna Roll Ups

This is a fun way to change up your lasagna. Cook noodles and allow to cool. All you do differently from the recipe above is, instead of layering noodles and cheese, add a spoonful of cheese mixture on a cooked lasagna noodle and roll up. Place rolled noodle on spaghetti sauce and continue with rest of noodles and cheese. Top with spaghetti sauce and sprinkle with cheese. Bake as directed above.

lasagna roll up