Amazing Manicotti Recipe - Real Life Dinner (2024)

21 Comments

Amazing Manicotti Recipe - Real Life Dinner (1)My friend, Jackie, shared this Amazing Manicotti Recipe with me back when we were both new brides. She was going to Cosmetology School and also worked at a grocery store as a checker. A woman who came through her line gave her this recipe. It was like a treasure to us Utah/Idaho girls who loved to cook and who had very little experience with authentic Italian food. It reminds me a little bit of the Amazing Stuffed Shells I make.

The woman told Jackie that no matter what she had to use Olive Oil in the recipe, and ”do not even make it if you weren’t going to use olive oil.” I don’t know about Jackie, but I had to go out and buy some. I had never even owned a bottle of Olive Oil before. My mom never used it, and I had no idea the magic it offered the world of food.

Looking back now, it totally cracks me up to think how foreign it felt to cook with olive oil. I’m so glad I was introduced to it. My life is so much better with Olive Oil in it. 🙂

The entire dish is so well-rounded, from the sauce to the Al Dente shells, to the perfect filling. It is a treat for the taste buds to be sure!I hope you love and treasure this Amazing Manicotti Recipe as much as Jackie and I do. It’s truly a keeper!

Pasta! It’s what’s for Dinner.

  • Angel Hair Pasta with Garlic Parmesan
  • The Best Italian Meatballs
  • Five Minute Pesto Alfredo Sauce with Chicken
  • Alfredo Pesto Sauce with Chicken and Tomatoes
  • Beef and Peppers with Egg Noodles
  • Creamy Bacon Spaghetti

Amazing Manicotti Recipe - Real Life Dinner (2)After living in New Jersey and being exposed to so many delicious authentic Italian recipes, (like this Amazing Sausage and Pepper’s recipe) I can say with confidence that this manicotti is the real deal! So authentic! When you feed it to people, they’re going to think you’re hiding a little Italian grandmother somewhere.

After making this way back when, I started using the same filling recipe to make lasagna or stuffed shells. It’s such a perfect texture, and with the cheeses blended together, the flavor is perfect. When I originally made the filling, sugar as one of the ingredients surprised me, but it really pulls it all togetherAmazing Manicotti Recipe - Real Life Dinner (3)

This recipe has three steps, so it’s a little more intense than most of the recipes I post. But…..they are easy steps. Trust me when I say it’s so worth it. I usually bust these out about 2-3 times a year. They’re perfect to make for company or when friends come to dinner. Sometimes I even make them on Valentine’s Day. Although, I have been known to make them on a regular Thursday or Tuesday every now and then.

One batch of this recipe makes 10-12 stuffed manicotti noodles. I usually double this recipe, and when we have company, I usually triple it. The leftovers, as is true with most Italian food, are even better the next day.

How to Make Amazing Manicotti

  • First, cook manicotti noodles al dente according to package directions. Drain noodles and set them on a plate or flat dish without overlapping or touching each other. This will help them from tearing or sticking together.
  • While noodles are cooking, begin making the sauce.
  • Heat olive oil in a large pot. Add the onion, garlic, and parsley. Sauté until garlic is golden and onion is transparent.
  • Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer. Simmer uncovered for 25-30 minutes until sauce is nicely thickened.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, grated mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, dried parsley, sugar, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
  • When the sauce is done simmering, pour half of the sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 dish.
  • Next, fill each al dente noodle with filling. Use a spoon to evenly distribute filling into each side of the noodle.
  • Place each filled noodle in the baking dish on top of the sauce.
  • Then, pour the remaining sauce over the noodles.
  • Cover dish with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes.
  • Remove foil.
  • Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and return to oven for 5 minutes.
  • Serve and Enjoy!Amazing Manicotti Recipe - Real Life Dinner (4)
Tips for making the Amazing Manicotti Recipe
  • Use olive oil for the best flavoring.
  • Start sauce while noodles are cooking to cut down on the time it takes to make them.
  • After draining cooked noodles, place them on a plate or flat dish without overlapping or touching each other. It helps prevent the noodles from sticking together and/or tearing.
  • A great tip from a reader, Hannah, for filling the noodles: Put the filling mixture into a sandwich-sized baggie, cut off one side of the bottom tip, and squeeze the mixture into the cooked noodles. It’s like using a piping bag.

Amazing Manicotti Recipe - Real Life Dinner (5)

Amazing Manicotti Recipe - Real Life Dinner (6)

Chef’s Tools:

More Italian Dishes You'll Love

Amazing Spaghetti SauceItalian Sausage and Peppers Lasagna Roll-upsItalian Sausage and Peppers Recipe


5.0 from 9 reviews

Amazing Manicotti Recipe

Prep time

Cook time

Total time

Authentic, delicious Al Dente noodles stuffed with three kinds of cheese smothered in homemade tomato sauce that will make your mouth water. This Manicotti is the real deal!

Author: Julie Kroff

Recipe type: Pasta

Cuisine: Italian

Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

  • 10-12 manicotti noodles, cooked al dente
  • FOR THE SAUCE
  • 6 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 large clove garlic, finely minced or put through press
  • 1 medium onion, minced
  • 2 Tbsp dried parsley
  • 2 15 oz cans diced tomatoes
  • 2 8 oz cans tomato sauce
  • ½ tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • dash of pepper
  • FILLING
  • 15 oz container Ricotta Cheese
  • ¼ pound Mozzarella cheese, grated (about 1 cup)
  • 3 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1 Tbsp dried parsley
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • More Parmesan Cheese for topping

Instructions

  1. First, cook manicotti noodles al dente according to package directions. Drain noodles and set them on a plate or flat dish without overlapping or touching each other. This will help them from tearing or sticking together.
  2. While noodles are cooking, begin making the sauce.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large pot. Sauté the onion, garlic, and parsley until garlic is golden and onion is transparent.
  4. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer. Simmer uncovered for 25-30 minutes until sauce is nicely thickened.
  5. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, grated mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, dried parsley, sugar, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
  6. When sauce is done simmering, pour half of the sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 dish.
  7. Next, fill each al dente noodle with filling. Use a spoon to evenly distribute filling into each side of the noodle.
  8. Place each filled noodle in the baking dish on top of the sauce.
  9. Then, pour the remaining sauce over the noodles.
  10. Cover dish with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes.
  11. Remove foil.
  12. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and return to oven for 5 minutes.
  13. Serve and Enjoy!

Have you tried these yet?

Classic Meatloaf Recipe…just like mom used to make.No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake {9×13 size}Pesto Parmesan Pork Chops

Amazing Manicotti Recipe - Real Life Dinner (14)

Amazing Manicotti Recipe - Real Life Dinner (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to boil manicotti before stuffing? ›

"This is an easy recipe since you don't need to precook the pasta and the shells are firm when you try to stuff them."

What's good to serve with manicotti? ›

Pair this manicotti with one of these top-rated side dish recipes:
  • Classic Restaurant Caesar Salad.
  • French Baguettes.
  • Arugula-Fennel Salad.
  • Jimbo's Garlic Knots.
  • Butter-Roasted Cauliflower.
Feb 2, 2023

What does manicotti mean in Italian? ›

Manicotti, meaning “l*ttle sleeves” in Italian, is a classic dish named for its signature tube-shaped pasta shells. In this stuffed manicotti recipe, simply fill the large shells with a decadent 3-cheese mixture, top with spaghetti sauce, and bake until melted and bubbly.

Should you cover manicotti when baking? ›

All 16 noodles should easily fit in the 9X13-inch dish. Spread the remaining sauce evenly over the noodles so they are completely covered. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake until the manicotti is bubbling, about 40 minutes.

Is manicotti eaten in Italy? ›

Manicotti in Italy are a similar pasta shape, but shorter and not supposed to be filled and baked. They are also called calamarata. I understand that in the Italian-American cuisine manicotti are similar to cannelloni, just with a rough surface, and are then filled and oven baked.

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 is the nickname for manicotti? ›

Manicotti may also be called “cannelloni.” “Cannelloni” derives from the word for “cane.” The Italian ending “oni,” means something big or fat. So, “cannelloni” are fat, stuffed canes.

What does Pooh mean in Italian? ›

What is the translation of "pooh" in Italian? en. pooh = bleah.

What is colitis in Italian? ›

(medicine) colite f.

Is there a tool to stuff manicotti? ›

Use your cake frosting tool to stuff manicotti and stuff shells easily and mess free!

How do you fill manicotti tubes? ›

Stuffing manicotti is difficult, but if you use a pastry bag without a tip, it's a breeze! Just spoon the filling into the bag, then squeeze it into the cooked pasta tubes.

How do you know when manicotti are done? ›

Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 25-30 minutes, or until the pasta is fully cooked, the filling is heated through, and the sauce is bubbly.

Should you boil manicotti noodles first? ›

You can make excellent manicotti without boiling a single noodle, it's true.

Are you supposed to cook the stuffing before putting it in? ›

Give stuffing a head start by heating it up before placing inside the turkey. Like the turkey, stuffing needs to reach the 165 degree mark. If the bird is done before the stuffing, remove stuffing from the cavities and continue to cook in a baking dish.

Does stuffing need to be cooked before? ›

If you plan to prepare stuffing using raw meat, poultry, or shellfish, you should precook the raw ingredients before stuffing the item to reduce the risk of foodborne illness from bacteria that may be found in raw ingredients.

How long should you boil manicotti shells? ›

Step 1: Boil manicotti.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the manicotti tubes and cook until al dente, about 6 minutes. Drain and run under cool water, then toss in olive oil and set aside.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nathanial Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 6550

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nathanial Hackett

Birthday: 1997-10-09

Address: Apt. 935 264 Abshire Canyon, South Nerissachester, NM 01800

Phone: +9752624861224

Job: Forward Technology Assistant

Hobby: Listening to music, Shopping, Vacation, Baton twirling, Flower arranging, Blacksmithing, Do it yourself

Introduction: My name is Nathanial Hackett, I am a lovely, curious, smiling, lively, thoughtful, courageous, lively person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.