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Hey there, pasta lovers! If you’re in the mood for a cozy, cheesy dinner that’s packed with flavors, this caramelized onion and roasted garlic manicotti is calling your name! With creamy ricotta, gooey gruyere, and a hit of sweet caramelized onion and roasted garlic, every bite is a flavor explosion. It’s comforting, cheesy, and just the right amount of indulgent. Let’s dive into the recipe!
Method
Preheat the Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 400ºF. This step is crucial as it ensures your oven is nice and hot when it’s time to bake the manicotti. The heat will melt the cheese perfectly and help the flavors meld together.
Cook the Manicotti
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the manicotti for about 5 minutes. You don’t need to cook them all the way through at this point just soften them enough to make them easier to stuff. Once cooked, drain the manicotti and rinse them under cold water to stop them from cooking further. Set them aside to cool completely.
Prepare the Filling
While the manicotti is cooling, it’s time to make the filling. In a large bowl, combine the roasted garlic, caramelized onions, chopped spinach, ricotta cheese, and gruyere cheese. The roasted garlic should be squeezed out of its skins, and it will add a sweet, mellow flavor to the filling. Add in the salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to give the filling a nice balance of flavor with a slight kick. Mix everything together until it’s nice and smooth, ensuring all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
Fill the Manicotti
Once your filling is ready, transfer it into a piping bag. This makes it easier to fill the manicotti shells without making a mess. Carefully pipe the filling into each manicotti shell, making sure they are completely stuffed. You want the filling to be packed tightly, so each bite is full of deliciousness!
Assemble the Dish
Take a 9×13 baking dish and spread 1 cup of marinara sauce evenly across the bottom. This will keep the manicotti from sticking and add a bit of extra flavor. Next, arrange the filled manicotti in a single layer over the sauce. Once they’re all in place, pour the remaining marinara sauce over the top of the manicotti. Be generous with the sauce it’s what helps the pasta stay moist and gives it that rich, savory taste. Then, sprinkle the shredded gruyere cheese over the entire dish. The cheese will melt beautifully during baking, creating that irresistible golden, bubbly crust.
Bake
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and place it in the preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes to allow the flavors to combine and the cheese to begin melting. After 20 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes. This will let the cheese brown and bubble on top, creating the perfect texture and flavor. You’ll know it’s done when the cheese is golden in spots and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.
Cool and Garnish
Once the manicotti is out of the oven, let it cool for a few minutes before serving. This gives the sauce a chance to settle and makes it easier to serve without it falling apart. Before serving, garnish the manicotti with fresh basil leaves for a pop of color and a fresh herbal flavor to balance out the richness of the cheese and sauce.
Necessary Tools
- 9×13 baking dish
- Piping bag
- Saucepan
- Large bowl
- Skillet
- Spoon or spatula
- Aluminum foil
- Knife and cutting board
Caramelized Onion And Roasted Garlic Manicotti Recipe
Cuisine: American, ItalianDifficulty: EasyServings
4
servingsPrep time
30
minutesCooking time
40
minutesTotal time
1
hour10
minutesIngredients
1 box manicotti
3 cups marinara sauce
1 cup gruyere cheese, shredded
Fresh basil, for garnish
For the filling
1 head garlic, roasted
2 yellow onions, caramelized and diced
1 5oz bag spinach, steamed and chopped
2 1/2 cups ricotta cheese, drained
1 cup gruyere cheese, shredded
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
Pinch red pepper flakes
Directions
- Preheat the oven Set your oven to 400ºF to get things nice and hot for baking.
- Cook the manicotti Boil the manicotti in salted water for about 5 minutes, just enough to soften them. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set them aside to cool.
- Prepare the filling In a large bowl, combine the roasted garlic (squeeze it out of the skins!), caramelized onions, chopped spinach, ricotta, gruyere, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix everything together until it’s nice and smooth.
- Fill the manicotti Transfer the filling into a piping bag, then pipe the filling into each manicotti shell until it’s all filled up.
- Assemble the dish Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce into the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Arrange the stuffed manicotti in a single layer. Top with the remaining marinara sauce and sprinkle the shredded gruyere cheese over the top.
- Bake Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. After that, uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly, with some nice brown spots.
- Cool & garnish Let the manicotti cool slightly before serving. Garnish with fresh basil for that perfect finishing touch.
Notes
- Be careful not to overcook the manicotti when boiling them. You want them firm enough to hold the filling, but not too soft.
- Make sure to cool the manicotti before filling them, as it makes the process much easier.
- If you’re using fresh garlic for roasting, make sure to keep an eye on it in the oven roasting garlic can turn from golden to burnt in a matter of minutes!
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with a side of garlic bread for an extra dose of flavor.
- Pair with a fresh green salad for a balanced meal.
- Add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top for an extra cheesy experience.
Fun Fact
Did you know that manicotti means “little sleeves” in Italian? It’s the perfect name for these tube-shaped pasta shells that hold all the yummy filling!
Conclusion
This caramelized onion and roasted garlic manicotti is the ultimate comfort food, with a perfect blend of savory and cheesy goodness. It’s easy enough for a weeknight meal but fancy enough to impress guests. So gather your ingredients, get cooking, and treat yourself to a plateful of pasta perfection!
