Stuffed Manicotti Recipe

5 from 1 vote

This Stuffed Manicotti Recipe is a hit in our house. Irresistible, tender pasta shells filled with gooey ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese smothered in red sauce. These cheesy shells are so good.

Prep Time15

Cook Time45

Total Time1

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Stuffed Manicotti

Servings:

Calories: 520kcal

Author: Ryan Allen

Equipment

Ingredients

12 manicotti pasta shells
26 ounces pasta sauce
16 ounces ricotta cheese
½ cup frozen spinach drained and squeezed dry
2 ½ cups mozzarella cheese shredded and divided
1 cup parmesan cheese shredded and divided
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons garlic minced

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350℉ and spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with a non-stick cooking spray.
Cook manicotti shells until they're firm but not too soft. Then, rinse them in cold water and drain thoroughly.
Add ricotta cheese, frozen spinach, 1½ cups mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, eggs, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and garlic in a large bowl. Mix until well combined.
Scoop the ricotta cheese mixture into a large piping bag or freezer bag and trim off a corner. Fill each of the manicotti shells with the ricotta cheese mixture.
Add ½ cup of pasta sauce to the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish, then place the filled shells on top. Top with the remaining sauce and cheese.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 35-40 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the pasta is tender.

Notes

Undercook the pasta slightly so the manicotti shells stay firm enough to stuff them without tearing.
Stand your piping bag or ziplock bag in a tall glass while filling it with the cheese mixture to prevent spills.
Remove all excess moisture from your thawed spinach to prevent the filling being watery.
Spread a thin layer of sauce to the bottom of the baking dish before adding the stuffed shells. This helps prevent them from sticking.
You can prep the entire dish the day before if needed. Bring it to room temperature before baking.

Nutrition