Chicken Manicotti
I like making this dish for special occasions. You can also use low-fat ingredients, and it turns out just as good.
—Liz Lorch
Spirit Lake, Iowa
SERVINGS
|
7
|
CATEGORY
|
Main Dish
|
METHOD
|
Baked
|
PREP |
30 min. |
COOK
|
35 min.
|
TOTAL
|
65 min.
|
INGREDIENTS
- 2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
- 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 4 cups cubed cooked chicken
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 can (8 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 14 manicotti shells, cooked and drained
- SAUCE:
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3-1/2 cups milk
- 3 cups (12 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
- 4 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in the sour cream, parsley, salt and pepper until blended. Stir in chicken. In a small skillet, cook onion and mushrooms in butter until tender; add to chicken mixture. Stuff into manicotti shells.
In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour and salt until smooth. Gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in 2-1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese just until melted.
Spread about 1/2 cup cheese sauce in each of two greased 11-in. x 7-in. dishes. Top with stuffed shells and remaining sauce.
Cover and bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until bubbly and cheese is melted. Yield: 7 servings.