Ultimate Crab and Spinach Manicotti With Parmesan Cheese Sauce

"You can cheat and make this with imitation crabmeat but of course the real stuff is better, if you are using frozen crabmeat make certain to squeeze out any excess moisture before using for this recipe --- if you are a spinach lover then add in the full box of spinach if not just use half a box as the spinach tends be over powering, you can use 1 pound fresh spinach in place of frozen --- you can stuff the shells and refrigerate until ready to bake, and this is also great with a red sauce instead of the Parmesan cheese sauce :)"
 
Download
photo by AZbikerider photo by AZbikerider
photo by AZbikerider
Ready In:
1hr 25mins
Ingredients:
16
Serves:
15
Advertisement

ingredients

Advertisement

directions

  • To make the sauce: in a saucepan over medium heat melt butter.
  • Add in flour and whisk for about 3 minutes.
  • Add in milk and half and half whisk over heat until bubbly and thickened.
  • Add in the Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and Tabasco to taste; stir until the cheese melts.
  • Set oven to 375 degrees.
  • Butter a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
  • In a bowl mix together crab, well drained spinach, ricotta, and Parmesan cheese, onions, egg, salt and pepper; mix well to combine.
  • Fill each cooked shell with crab/cheese filling using clean hands.
  • Place in a single layer in prepared baking dish.
  • Cover with the Parmesan cheese sauce (does not have to cover completely!).
  • Sprinkle with grated mozzeralla cheese (any amount desired).
  • Bake uncovered for about 25-30 minutes (do not over bake!).

Questions & Replies

  1. Why cook the frozen spinach? If thawed and well drained it should cook properly while baking the stuffed manicotti, right?
     
Advertisement

Reviews

  1. This filling and sauce were great!! I made ravioli using wonton wrappers-DH thought I spent the whole day cooking! Thanks for a great recipe!
     
  2. I added shrimp, used canned crab and heavy whipping cream instead of half n half. It turned out wonderful. Hubby wasn't too fond of it though, says its missing flavor. Next time ill add some Tonys or maybe Seafood Season.
     
  3. Very good and easy to fix! A few notes about this dish - I used oven-ready manicotti so wish I'd made more sauce and started with a layer of sauce on the bottom of the dish. The bottom of the manicotti shells were a little dry. Did not cook the spinach - only thawed and squeezed out all the moisture. Also, used imatation crab for this dish and would recommend using. Added pieces of crabmeat on top and cooked for last 10 minutes. Overall very good and will fix it again.
     
    • Review photo by AZbikerider
  4. Yummy!! This was excellent!!
     
  5. I made this for Easter dinner since it was just the two of us. Great meal! I thought I had manicotti but ended up making crepes. Turned out wonderful. I cut the recipe back for five and it made four stuffed manicotti. It is very filling so have two left over. Served it with Recipe #13586 as an appetizer and Recipe #284517 for dessert.
     
Advertisement

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Find More Recipes