Manicotti

We are excited to share with you this delicious Manicotti Recipe! With its tender pasta tubes overflowing with creamy Ricotta Parmesan filling and covered in a delicious marinara, manicotti delivers all the comfort of lasagna with half the fuss!

Pipe, bake, and then watch those cheese-filled pasta bake golden brown. Pasta always delivers the best main dish recipe whether we need an easy weeknight dinner or date night in. You may also want to try Italian Sausage Pasta or Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna Recipe.

Why You’ll Love Homemade Manicotti

My family loves when I make Homemade Italian Recipes. Manicotti is always requested because of the tender pasta tubes overflowing with the creamy, cheesy filling and delicious marinara sauce.

Manicotti delivers a cozy, comforting dish that is easy to assemble and is freezer-friendly. The perfect pasta dish to serve any day of the week that taste amazing.

Ingredients

• Marinara Sauce – Use store bought or make Homemade Marinara Sauce
• Manicotti Shells – You will need about 15 shells
• Ricotta Cheese – Substitute with cottage cheese
• Grated Parmesan Cheese – We even like to add extra as a topping
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – We like to use freshly shredded cheese 
• Spinach – Freshly chopped spinach is best
• Egg – Use lightly beaten egg
• Italian Seasoning – Learn How to Make Italian Seasoning Recipe
• Salt and Black Pepper – Simple spices

Scroll to the recipe card for the full recipe.

How to Make Homemade Manicotti

Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 

Step 2 – Cook the manicotti shells in a large pot of salted water and based on the package instructions and then drain and rinse them with cold water.  

Step 3 – In a large bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, grated parmesan cheese, half of the shredded mozzarella cheese, chopped spinach, egg, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper until combined with a wooden spoon.

Step 4 – Place the cheese mixture in a piping bag, pastry bag or ziplock bag with the corner of the bag cut off. 

Step 5 – Pour a thin layer of the marinara sauce into the bottom of a 9X13 baking dish. 

Step 6 – Pipe approximately 3-4 tablespoons of the cheese mixture into each manicotti tubes and layer them into a single layer in the baking dish.  

Step 7 – Pour the remaining sauce on top of the shell and sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top. 

Step 8 – Bake the cheese manicotti for 20-25 minutes until the filling is heated through, sauce is bubbling and cheese is melted.  Serve warm and enjoy! 

Pro Tips for the Perfect Manicotti

• Filling Pasta – When piping the cheese into the manicotti shells, I find it’s easier to pipe a small amount of cheese into each side of the shells to completely fill them up.  
• Cooking Pasta – We recommend not to overcook the manicotti noodles so they do not collapse while baking in the oven.
• Making Ahead – This is a great recipe to double and make a pan for your freezer. Place the prepared manicotti in a freezer disposable pan then cover. This way you only have to clean up the mess one time.

Flavor Variations

• Bolognese Sauce Recipe – Swap ½ the marinara sauce with bolognese sauce for a ground beef twist.
• Pesto – Swirl ¼ cup of basil pesto into the sauce.
• Spicy – If you like your Italian dishes to have a hint of spice add in 1 teaspoon or red pepper flakes.
• Noodles – Substitute the manicotti shells with no-boil lasagna noodles.

What to Serve with Manicotti

Manicotti can be served with many side dish recipes.

• Garlic Bread Cheese Sticks
• Homemade Garlic Bread
• Air Fryer Asparagus
• Easy Caesar Salad Recipe
• Parmesan Roasted Broccoli