Cheesy Manicotti (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

01 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella, with a bit extra for topping.
02 - 24 ounces of your favorite French-style marinara sauce.
03 - 8 manicotti pasta tubes.
04 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
05 - 15 ounces of creamy ricotta cheese.
06 - 2 big eggs.
07 - 1/2 teaspoon fine salt.
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper.
09 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley for flavor.

# Instructions:

01 - Prepare manicotti tubes following the instructions on the pack, cooking them just until soft. Don’t overdo it!
02 - Once cooked, drain the pasta carefully, then space the tubes on some parchment paper so they won’t stick to each other.
03 - Allow the pasta to cool down completely. This makes them much easier to handle while filling.
04 - Get your oven ready by preheating it to exactly 175°C (350°F). Spray your baking tray with some non-stick oil.
05 - Spread a thin, even layer of marinara sauce across the bottom of your baking dish.
06 - In a mixing bowl, blend the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, eggs, parsley, salt, and pepper until you’ve got a smooth mixture.
07 - Transfer the cheese filling into a pastry bag or even a plastic zip-top bag with a corner cut off to make filling simpler.
08 - Carefully squeeze the cheese mixture into both sides of each manicotti tube until full.
09 - Place the filled pasta tubes into the baking dish, arranging them in one layer.
10 - Pour the rest of the marinara sauce over the stuffed pasta, ensuring every piece is smothered in sauce.
11 - Wrap the dish tightly with aluminum foil to keep everything moist while baking.
12 - Pop the covered dish into the oven and bake for 40 minutes. Make sure the cheese filling inside is heated through.
13 - Take off the foil and sprinkle a bit more shredded mozzarella over the top if you like.
14 - Return the dish, uncovered, to the oven for another 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese is nicely melted and starts to lightly brown.
15 - Let your meal sit for 5 minutes before serving, garnished with some fresh parsley to give it that final touch.

# Notes:

01 - Can be prepped ahead of time!
02 - Perfect for freezing when needed.
03 - A beloved dish from Italian tradition.
04 - Loaded with three types of cheesy goodness.

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