Description
A rich, layered American-Italian fusion dish with garlic-kissed chicken, savory parmesan-ricotta filling, and velvety Alfredo sauce. Golden baked manicotti offers contrasting textures for a comforting, shareable meal.
Ingredients
12 manicotti shells
1.25 lbs chicken tenderloins
24 oz whole milk ricotta cheese
6 oz grated aged parmesan
2 garlic cloves
2 tbsp unsalted European-style butter
16 oz whole milk
1 tbsp fresh lemon thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp Italian seasoning (for filling)
1/4 cup flour (for Alfredo sauce)
1/2 cup grated cheddar (optional addition for extra cheese depth)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C)
Pat chicken tenderloins dry, season with thyme, salt, and pepper
Sauté chicken in butter in large skillet until browned and nearly cooked (85°C internal), ~5-7 minutes
Remove chicken, add minced garlic to pan, toast 1 minute, stir into chicken mixture
Drain excess fat from chicken, let cool
Crumble ricotta into large bowl, mix in 1/2 parmesan, Italian seasoning, and salt-keep texture coarse
Fill each manicotti shell 3/4 full with ricotta mixture (use pastry bag for precision)
Enter a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil-coated layers (optional)
Spread remaining parmesan in base of dish
Arrange stuffed manicotti shells side by side
Top with Alfredo sauce: In pot, whisk flour and remaining parmesan until smooth, add boiling milk gradually, stir continuously until thickened
Pour sauce over manicotti, cover with foil
Bake 35-40 minutes until golden and bubbly
Rest 10 minutes before serving
Notes
Replace dairy with vegan alternatives for plant-based version
For gluten-free, use certified gluten-free pasta
Parmesan can be substituted with finely grated cheddar or vegan cheese
Store leftovers in airtight container up to 3 days; freeze uncooked filled shells for convenience
For extra richness, add 1/2 cup heavy cream to Alfredo sauce
- Prep Time: 35
- Cook Time: 50
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American-Italian fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 manicotti shell
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 1000mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 120mg