Looking for a comforting and crowd-pleasing dinner that’s simple enough for beginners?

This baked manicotti recipe combines tender pasta shells with a rich, cheesy filling and a savory tomato sauce, creating a deliciously satisfying meal that’s sure to impress your family and friends.

Perfect for busy weeknights or a cozy weekend dinner, it’s a classic dish that’s both easy to make and even easier to enjoy!

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Ingredients

• 5 ½ ounces manicotti pasta
• 1 pint part-skim ricotta cheese
• 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
• ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 (16-ounce) jar of spaghetti sauce

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Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Manicotti

• Start by cooking the manicotti pasta. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Add the manicotti and cook according to the package directions, usually about 10 to 12 minutes, until the pasta is al dente (firm to the bite).
• Drain the pasta and rinse it with cold water to stop it from cooking further and to make it easier to handle.

Step 2: Preheat the Oven

• While the pasta is cooking, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• This will ensure that the oven is at the right temperature when you’re ready to bake the manicotti.

Step 3: Mix the Cheese Filling

• In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, ½ cup of the grated Parmesan cheese, eggs, dried parsley, salt, and black pepper.
• Mix everything together until it’s well blended.

Step 4: Assemble the Dish

• Pour ½ cup of spaghetti sauce into the bottom of a 11×17-inch baking dish.
• This will help prevent the manicotti from sticking and adds flavor.
• Carefully stuff each manicotti shell with about 3 tablespoons of the cheese mixture.
• Arrange the stuffed shells over the sauce in the baking dish.
• Pour the remaining spaghetti sauce over the top of the shells, covering them completely.
• Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese on top.

Step 5: Bake and Serve

• Place the baking dish in the preheated oven.
• Bake for about 45 minutes, or until the manicotti is bubbly and the top is golden brown.
• Once done, let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
• This allows the filling to set a bit and makes it easier to dish out.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of cheese?

Yes! While ricotta and mozzarella are traditional, you can substitute other cheeses like cottage cheese for ricotta or a different melting cheese if you prefer.

What should I do if the manicotti shells break while cooking?

If your manicotti shells break, don’t worry! You can still use them. Simply stuff the broken pieces and arrange them in the baking dish as best as you can. They’ll still taste great, even if they look a bit different.

Simple Italian Manicotti

This easy baked manicotti recipe features stuffed pasta shells filled with a cheesy ricotta mixture, topped with spaghetti sauce and Parmesan, and baked to bubbly perfection.

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• ▢ 5 ½ ounces manicotti pasta
• ▢ 1 pint part-skim ricotta cheese
• ▢ 8 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded
• ▢ ¾ cup Parmesan cheese (grated,divided)
• ▢ 2 large eggs
• ▢ 1 tsp dried parsley
• ▢ Salt and ground black pepper to taste
• ▢ 1 jar of spaghetti sauce (16-ounce)

Instructions

Prepare the Manicotti

1. Start by cooking the manicotti pasta. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

   Add the manicotti and cook according to the package directions, usually about 10 to 12 minutes, until the pasta is al dente (firm to the bite).

   Drain the pasta and rinse it with cold water to stop it from cooking further and to make it easier to handle.

Preheat the Oven

1. While the pasta is cooking, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

   This will ensure that the oven is at the right temperature when you're ready to bake the manicotti.

Mix the Cheese Filling

1. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, ½ cup of the grated Parmesan cheese, eggs, dried parsley, salt, and black pepper.

   Mix everything together until it’s well blended.

Assemble the Dish

1. Pour ½ cup of spaghetti sauce into the bottom of a 11×17-inch baking dish.

   This will help prevent the manicotti from sticking and adds flavor.

   Carefully stuff each manicotti shell with about 3 tablespoons of the cheese mixture.

   Arrange the stuffed shells over the sauce in the baking dish.

   Pour the remaining spaghetti sauce over the top of the shells, covering them completely.

   Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese on top.

Bake and Serve

1. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven.

   Bake for about 45 minutes, or until the manicotti is bubbly and the top is golden brown.

   Once done, let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

   This allows the filling to set a bit and makes it easier to dish out.

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