Cheesy mushroom spinach manicotti is a delicious baked pasta dish that is delicious for any meal and can easily be made as part of meal prep. Manicotti, literally, translates as "little sleeve", and is an Italian American form of pasta. They are very large pasta tubes, usually ridged, that are intended to be stuffed and baked. This recipe has a tasty filling of mushrooms, spinach with ricotta cheese, cream cheese and mozzarella. All of that baked with a delicious tomato sauce and topped with cheese is just so good that you need to try it. This dish is so flavorful and cheesy that you need to try it. These manicotti are comfort food at it’s best. When you're craving cheese and carbs, there's really nothing better!

Happy Cooking!

Servings: 5-7

Prep Time: 30-40 mins

Cooking Time: 40 mins

Total Time: 1 hour 20 mins

Ingredients: 

• 8 oz manicotti

• 7-10 white/Bella mushrooms chopped in small pieces

• 2.5-3 cups spinach chopped

• 1.75 cup ricotta

• 3 tbsp milk

• 2/3 cup cream cheese; I used chive cream cheese

• 4-7 cloves Garlic finely chopped

• 1/2 cup Mozzarella + garish

• 2-2.5 cups pizza sauce or marinara sauce

• 1-2 tsp Salt based on taste

• 1/4 tsp Pepper

• 1-2 tsp Chilli flakes based on taste

• 1 tsp Italian seasonings based on taste

• 1-2 tbsp chopped Chives (if not using chive cream cheese)

• 1-2 tsp honey

• 1 tbsp olive oil

Directions: 

1. You can use any pizza/marinara sauce. My pizza sauce recipe is here.

2. Manicotti- Add water with salt in a saucepan and boil. Add the manicotti pasta to the water and boil till just al dente. Check box for directions. I boiled it for 5-6 mins. Drain immediately and save about 1 cup of pasta water. Separate the pasta tubes and keep aside on a plate.

3. In a pan add 1 tbsp olive oil and add garlic and cook for 3-4 mins till translucent.

4. Add chopped mushrooms and cook it well they start releasing water. This can take 3-5 mins.

5. Add in the chopped spinach and cook till they wilt.

6. Add all the chives and seasonings (chilli flakes, pepper, salt and chilli flakes) and mix together.

7. Take it off the flame and add ricotta cheese, cream cheese, shredded cheese, milk and 2 tbsp of the pasta water and mix together.

8. Add honey and mix. Let the filling cool slightly and transfer it to a piping bag or a large ziplock bag (easier to fill)

9. Preheat oven to 350F.

10. Add about 1/2-3/4 cup of water to the pizza/marinara sauce.

11. In a baking dish spread some of the sauce on the base of the baking dish just enough to cover the base.

12. Fill manicotti tubes with the cheesy mixture using a piping bag and layer over the sauce on the baking dish.

13. If you have any remaining filling spread it over the manicotti tubes.

14. Spread the pizza/marinara sauce all over the pasta tubes making sure its covered well.

15. Sprinkle cheese over the tubes and the rest all over.

16. Bake for 25-35 mins and serve warm.

Notes/Tips:

• Do not over boil the manicotti, it will get too soggy.

• I would recommend using a chunkier sauce. I use my pizza sauce, recipe here.

• You can add parmesan and pecorino cheese to the filling and make it cheesier.

• You can add veggies like corn, onions, chopped up broccoli if you like. You can skip the mushrooms but you barely taste it.

• You can use the same mixture for making stuffed shell pasta if you like.

• You can use a spoon to fill the manicotti but i recommend using a piping bag because it’s so much easier.

• If the filling oozes out of the manicotti it’s fine.

• Make sure the manicotti is covered with the tomato sauce so that it does not dry out in the oven.