Yields 6 servings
Ingredients:
1.5 lbs. UNcooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts/tenders, cut into strips
1t. garlic salt
pepper to taste
1 t. oregano or Italian seasoning
1 (8 oz. box = 14 shells) UNcooked manicotti shells
1 (28-30 oz.) jar or spaghetti sauce
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
optional toppings: olives, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, etc to your liking
Assembly Directions:
Line counter top or large cookie sheet with waxed paper. Place chicken on waxed paper and sprinkle with garlic salt and seasonings. Insert seasoned chicken into uncooked manicotti shells, stuffing from each end of shell to fill if necessary.
Freezing Directions:
Option 1: Spread 1/3 of spaghetti sauce in ungreased 13X9X2 baking dish. Arrange filled shells on sauce in dish. Top with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with cheese (and option toppings, if desired). Wrap unbaked dish tightly with foil, label and freeze.
Option 2: Place filled shells back in plastic forms from box or on cookie sheet and flash freeze. When frozen, put in freezer bag. Seal, label and freeze.
Serving Directions:
Option 1: Unwrap & bake right from freezer at 350 degrees for 1.5 hours. If already thawed, about 1 hour.
Option 2: Assemble as above, using as much sauce and as many shells as needed. Seven shells fit nicely in an 8X8 pan. Repackage and freeze any remaining sauce for next time.
Comments:
For singles or doubles, Option 2 – flash freezing the filled shells – works great. You can take out as many shells as you need and aren’t faced with a huge amount of leftovers.
This dish was liked by our family.
ReplyDeleteThe grown ups liked it more than the kids but I wasn't sure why because they typically like this sort of meal. I thought maybey I would do slightly less seasoning on the chicken when I make it...?I would like to try again with our gang. Sometimes new ideas just need a bit more time and we liked it so much we want it again! Kids? What kids?