Manicotti Recipes

Manicotti stuffed with melted cheese and smothered in marinara sauce is pure comfort food! This easy dinner recipe satisfies all of your cravings.

This vegetarian stuffed cheese manicotti recipe is super easy to make and the step-by-step process photos below will guide you through the entire recipe.

This easy manicotti recipe is one of those no-fuss picky-eater-approved dinners. It is simply a creamy cheese mixture stuffed into pasta shells and baked with marinara sauce. Its perfect for a big family dinner or when you need to feed a large crowd.

manicotti recipes

The Best Manicotti EVER!

manicotti recipes

This manicotti is filled with 3 kinds of cheese and baked to absolute perfection! It’s comfort food at its finest that everyone will go crazy over! It’s definitely sure to please a large crowd!

Prep: 15min

Total: 45min

Yield: 10

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 268 kcal, Carbohydrate 15 g, Protein 17 g, Fat 15 g, Saturated Fat 9 g, Trans Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 72 mg, Sodium 339 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, unSaturated Fat 5 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 10 manicotti
  • 16 ounce ricotta cheese
  • 3 cups mozzarella cheese (divided)
  • 1/2 cup parmesan
  • 1 cup spinach (chopped)
  • 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 16 ounce jar marinara sauce, or homemade sauce

Instruction:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook the manicotti according to package directions and rinse in cold water.
  2. In a medium-sized bowl combine ricotta, one cup of mozzarella cheese, parmesan, spinach, Italian seasoning, and egg.
  3. Stuff the shells with the cheese mixture. I find that using a piping bag works the best.
  4. In a 9×13 inch, pan add 1 cup of marinara sauce to the bottom. Line the manicotti in an even layer. Cover with remaining sauce and cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Beef and Cheese Manicotti

manicotti recipes

Prep: 0 15min0

Total: 0 55min0

Yield: 6 servings

Serving Size: 1 of 6 servings

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 of 6 servings, calories 864, Fat 53g, Saturated Fat 26g, Carbohydrate 46g, Fiber 4g, Sugar 10g, Protein 50g, Cholesterol 164mg, Sodium 1359mg

Ingredients:

  • 4 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 14 (8-ounce package) manicotti
  • 1 (15-ounce) container whole-milk ricotta
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 cups marinara sauce
  • 2 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces

Instruction:

  1. Heat a heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, onion and ground beef. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until the meat browns and the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and cool.
  2. Brush 1 teaspoon of oil over a large baking sheet. Cook the manicotti in a large pot of boiling salted water until slightly softened, but still very firm to the bite, about 4 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the manicotti from the pot to the oiled baking sheet and cool.
  3. Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, 1 1/2 to 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan, and parsley. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper to taste, and mix. Stir the cooled meat mixture into the cheese mixture.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  5. Brush the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil over a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Spoon 1 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. Fill the manicotti with the cheese-meat mixture. Arrange the stuffed pasta in a single layer in the prepared dish and spoon the remaining sauce over.
  6. Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese, then the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan over the stuffed pasta. Dot entire dish with the butter pieces. Bake the manicotti uncovered until heated through and the sauce bubbles on the sides of the dish, about 30 to 35 minutes. Let the manicotti stand 5 minutes and serve.

The BEST Homemade Cheese Manicotti

manicotti recipes

Manicotti stuffed with melted cheese and smothered in marinara sauce is pure comfort food! This easy dinner recipe satisfies all the cravings.

Prep: 20min

Total: 80min

Yield: 8

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 438 kcal, Carbohydrate 24 g, Protein 29 g, Fat 25 g, Saturated Fat 14 g, Cholesterol 124 mg, Sodium 1288 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 5 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 5 1/2 ounces manicotti pasta
  • 1 pint whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 16 ounces mozzarella cheese (shredded and divided in half)
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese (grated and divided in half)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 8 leaves fresh basil (sliced into thin ribbons)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 28 ounces marinara sauce

Instruction:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Par boil manicotti: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook manicotti for only a minute. Drain. The goal is to soften the pasta and start the cooking process, but the pasta needs to still be extremely firm in order to stuff. The pasta will finish cooking in the oven.
  3. Prepare cheese filling: In a large bowl, combine ricotta, garlic, half of the mozzarella, half of the Parmesan, eggs, Italian seasoning, basil, salt and pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix well. Add to large resealable plastic bag.
  4. Prepare manicotti: Add about 1/2 cup of the sauce to the bottom of an 11×17 baking dish. Snip the corner off the bag containing the cheese filling and pipe it into each manicotti tube. Arrange each tube in the pan on the sauce. Pour remaining sauce on top and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover with foil.
  5. Bake: Place manicotti in preheated oven and bake, covered, for about 45 minutes. Remove foil and continue cooking until cheese is melted, about 15 additional minutes.

Stuffed Manicotti Recipe

FAQ

Should manicotti be cooked before stuffing?

How to Stuff Manicotti. In this stuffed manicotti recipe, you do NOT need to cook the manicotti shells before baking. It’s easier to stuff the manicotti without breaking it when the noodles are UNCOOKED. It’s also easier to work with uncooked noodles than try to manipulate and fill boiled limp noodles!

How do you stuff manicotti without breaking them?

How to Fill Shells Without Breaking Them. I recommend using a long narrow spoon to stuff the manicotti to prevent breaks. If you can, use a pastry bag fitted with a large tip to easily pipe the filling. A gallon resealable plastic bag with a small portion of the edge cut off also works well.

What sauce goes with manicotti?

Most manicotti recipes pair a simple tomato sauce with a basic ricotta pasta stuffing. But for maximum cheesy lusciousness, take a cue from fancy lasagnas and add a creamy bechamel sauce, too. Spiked with a handful of pecorino and Parmesan, it adds some depth to the mild, ricotta-stuffed pasta.

What do Italians eat with manicotti?

Just like any other pasta dish, it is not served with a side dish or with salad on the plate. You can serve antipasto, or soup before the manicotti as the main course. You can also serve a meat dish, salad and/or dessert afterwards, but nothing goes on the plate with the manicotti.

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

Leave a Comment