Manicotti Crepes

These homemade manicotti crepes take Sunday sauce with the family to another level. This recipe makes delicate crepes rolled up and stuffed with the most delicious ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese filling. Each bite is out of this world good, and you'll be surprised by how easy this recipe is to make!

The Best Manicotti Crepes

This homemade manicotti recipe is by far one of my favorite Italian dinner recipes. It's simple to make, yet it tastes like something you'd get at an authentic Italian restaurant! 

This recipe is essentially a baked manicotti recipe, but instead of classic manicotti pasta, it uses homemade crepes as the shell for the ricotta filling.

Speaking of ricotta filling, it's made up of a blend of mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, spinach, and, of course, ricotta cheese. It's the perfect complement to the soft and fluffy homemade crepes. Topped off with marinara sauce and grated parmesan cheese, this homemade manicotti will quickly become a family favorite!

Serve it with these Olive Garden breadsticks to dip in the extra sauce for the best Italian dinner ever.

Why This Recipe Works

A dinner that will impress. This homemade manicotti recipe was an instant hit with my family the first time I made it. I love whipping it up for a Sunday dinner with my family, and it's the ideal recipe for hosting. Everyone will be amazed by how good it is! 

The crepes. Regular manicotti is delicious, but there's something about the homemade crepes as the manicotti shells that makes it ten times better!

Authentic. Even though this recipe is made with crepes instead of pasta tubes, it tastes like an authentic Italian manicotti recipe. Everyone who tries the manicotti will think you picked it up from a restaurant!

Ingredients

Not only are these homemade italian manicotti crepes delicious, but they're made with simple ingredients. You might even have some of them on hand already! 

Check out what you need to make manicotti crepes:

• 4 large eggs
• 8oz. cold water
• 1 ⅓ cup flour
• ½ teaspoon salt

Here's what you need for the ricotta filling:

• 1 ⅓ cup ricotta cheese or cream cheese
• 5 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
• ½ cup freshly grated parmesan
• 3.5oz. chopped frozen spinach, thawed and drained

And to finish the manicotti:

• 4 cup marinara sauce
• 2-3 tablespoon freshly grated parmesan

If you're looking for something to serve with the homemade manicotti, you can use many of these same ingredients to make this dump and bake meatball casserole. The two recipes are really easy to make together, and they're the perfect pair.

How To Make Manicotti Crepes

1. Make the crepe batter: Beat the eggs with the water in a large mixing bowl until frothy. Add the flour and salt and stir until you have a smooth batter. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let the batter rest in the fridge for 30 minutes. 

2. Cook the crepes: Heat a crepe pan or large flat skillet over medium heat. Gently brush the skillet with some cooking oil. Scoop ¼ cup of the manicotti crepe batter into the skillet. With a gentle swirl motion, spread the batter over the entire bottom of the skillet. Cook the crepe for 1 minute, gently lift and flip the crepe, and cook for another 30 seconds to a minute. Repeat the cooking process with the rest of the crepe batter or until you have 6 crepes total. 

3. Make the filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and the thawed, drained spinach. Mix all of these ingredients together until they're well combined.

4. Prepare to bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease a 9-inch baking dish with some cooking oil. Pour some of the marinara sauce evenly onto the bottom of the baking dish. 

5. Assemble the manicotti: Spread some of the ricotta cheese mixture over the center of each crepe and press it down. Fold the crepe into a cylinder and place it in the prepared baking dish. Repeat with the remaining crepes and ricotta cheese filling and line all of them in the baking dish. Pour the remaining sauce over the top of the crepes and finish them off with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

6. Bake and serve: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes. Serve the manicotti warm garnished with basil leaves, and enjoy!

Tips To Make The Best Recipe

• Hold the handle of the crepe pan and give the pan a swirl as soon as the crepe batter is poured onto it. You'll want it to completely coat the bottom of the pan for the best crepe texture
• Mix the ricotta cheese and spinach first, then add the parmesan and mozzarella. This will help get a smoother consistency in the ricotta cheese filling.
• Place the crepes folded side down in the baking dish to ensure they stay together.
• Add cooked ground beef or Italian sausage to the cheese filling for an extra hearty meal.
• Use a homemade sauce or your favorite spaghetti sauce for the tomato sauce.

How To Store Manicotti Crepes

In the fridge: Store the leftover manicotti in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

In the freezer: Transfer the manicotti to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container and freezer for up to 2 months.

Reheating: Place the manicotti in a baking dish and bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes or more until warmed through. Let the frozen manicotti thaw in the fridge overnight or add more reheating time.

FAQs About This Manicotti Crepe Recipe

Is manicotti a crepe or pasta?

Manicotti is the type of pasta that is used. Translated, it means "little sleeves," which makes a lot of sense because, in an authentic italian manicotti recipe, they're stuffed with cheese filling. 

Is crespelle the same as manicotti?

No, a crespelle is a folded pancake or Italian crepe, that is typically used as a substitute for pasta in a variety of dishes. 

Can I make these manicotti crepes ahead of time?

Yes! That's one of the best parts about this manicotti crepe recipe. Just cook all of the crepes and store them in a Ziploc with a sheet of wax paper between each one. Mix the filling ingredients and store the mixture in an airtight container. You can keep both in the fridge for a few days, then assemble the manicotti and bake.

Can you freeze manicotti made with crepes?

Yes! You can freeze baked or unbaked manicotti made with crepes. Place the assembled manicotti in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze. Transfer the frozen manicotti to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and freeze for a few months.

More Italian Recipes

• Beef lasagna 
• Lazy lasagna
• Meatless baked ziti
• Stuffed shells with meat
• Ricotta pie