Make-Ahead Italian Sausage Manicotti

Step 1

Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a medium-large pot over medium heat. Add Italian sausage and cook until golden brown (about 10 minutes), breaking up the sausage with a metal spatula until sausage is crumbly.

Step 2

When sausage is golden brown, pour off all accumulated fat except for 1 tablespoon. Add garlic and Italian seasoning to sausage and continue to cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds, stirring continually.

Step 3

Add fire-roasted tomatoes and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a steady simmer and cook for 15 minutes until sauce is beginning to thicken.

Step 4

Remove from heat, add chopped basil and stir to combine. Transfer sauce to an 8x12 baking dish or 12-inch oval gratin pan

Step 5

Combine ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, basil (or parsley), salt and pepper in a medium-size bowl. Stir until well combined. Set aside.

Step 6

Whisk eggs together then add all ingredients together and whisk until smooth. Consistency will be like heavy cream.

Step 7

Heat a 6 or 7-inch skillet until hot over medium heat. Remove pan from the burner and spray with non-stick cooking spray.

Step 8

Add 1/4 cup batter to the pan and swirl the pan until the bottom is evenly coated. Cook until the surface becomes slightly dull, about 30-40 seconds. Flip and cook opposite side for another 10-15 seconds. Slide the pasta circle onto a piece of parchment paper.

Step 9

Repeat, making 5 more pasta circles, stacking them between pieces of parchment paper.

Step 10

Continue with the recipe or refrigerate stack in a ziplock bag, if not using right away.

Step 11

Place about 1/6 of the filling (a large rounded tablespoonful) onto the lower end of one of the pasta rounds. Spread filling in an even layer across the circle (see picture above in the post). Bring the lower end of the circle over the filling and roll into a tube shape. Place pasta tube on top of meat sauce in the pan.

Step 12

Repeat with remaining pasta rounds, snuggling the filled pasta next to each other on top of the meat sauce.

Step 13

Top with 2 cups of shredded Mozzarella.

Step 14

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Tent manicotti with foil so that foil is not touching cheeses. Bake for 45 minutes then remove foil and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes (until cheese is beginning to brown at the edges). Allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley, if desired.