Today I’m sharing my Three Cheese Manicotti Recipe! I try to make a meat free meal once or twice a week for my family. Eating less meat helps to reduce your risk for different diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity. This Manicotti Recipe is a family favorite!

So here is what you need:

1 box of Manicotti (14 pieces)

8 oz of marinara sauce

3 garlic cloves peeled and chopped

3 sprigs of fresh basil chopped

3 cups of mozzarella cheese

1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

32 oz of ricotta cheese

1 egg lightly beaten

Preheat the oven to 425F

Boil the Manicotti noodles according to the package instructions. Make sure not to overcook the noodles or they will easily break apart. 

First you are going to finely chop the basil and garlic and set aside. Next lightly beat the egg and add it to the ricotta stirring it well. Then add 1 cup of mozzarella, 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan, 3/4 of the basil, and all of the garlic to the ricotta. Stir well to create the cheese mixture.

Once the Manicotti noodles are done, I like to rinse them in cold water for easy handling when you stuff them with cheese.

Next spread 1/3 of the marinara sauce on the bottom of a large baking dish.

Then use a small spoon to stuff each Manicotti noodle with the cheese mixture. Layer half of the stuffed noodles in a row in the baking dish.

Place one layer of stuffed noodles on top of the sauce.

Next add another 1/3 of marinara sauce over the Manicotti noodles and sprinkle one cup of mozzarella cheese on top.

Then add the last row of stuffed Manicotti noodles on top of the first. Finish by adding the remainder of the marinara sauce, then spread the last cup of mozzarella cheese across, the remainder of the Parmesan and sprinkle with the last of the chopped basil.

Bake on 425F for 25 to 30 minutes until sauce is bubbly and cheese is slightly browned.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

BMWK: Are you going to try my Three Cheese Manicotti Recipe? Does your family eat meat free meals?