Description
Hearty cannelloni shells are generously stuffed with savory chicken sausage, mushrooms, and gooey cheese, then layered in a luscious bechamel sauce and baked until golden and bubbling. The ultimate comfort food for a cozy dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 box cannelloni or manicotti shells
- 1 pound ground chicken sausage
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 4 ounces diced mushrooms
- 12 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 egg yolks
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 6 tablespoons flour
- 3 cups milk
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Cook pasta shells to al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add onion and mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes, until softened and the mushrooms release their moisture.
- Add ground chicken sausage to the skillet. Cook while breaking it apart, until fully browned and no longer pink. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until bubbling and lightly golden.
- Gradually whisk in milk. Continue whisking until smooth and thickened into a bechamel sauce.
- Reserve ¾ cup of the sauce and set aside.
- To the remaining sauce in the skillet, stir in the sausage mixture. Add half of the mozzarella, the egg yolks, oregano, and Parmesan cheese. Mix until well combined.
- Lightly brush a 9×13 inch casserole dish with some of the reserved bechamel sauce.
- Fill each pasta shell with the sausage and cheese mixture using a spoon or gloved hands. Arrange filled shells in the baking dish in a single layer.
- Pour the reserved sauce evenly over the stuffed shells. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbling. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the bechamel sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, but not too thick to make filling the shells difficult.
- If you prefer a lighter version, you can substitute the ground chicken sausage with turkey sausage.
- Feel free to add spinach or herbs of your choice to the sausage mixture for extra flavor.
- This dish can be assembled ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Comfort Food
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 510 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 160mg
