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March 23, 2019 18 Comments

Amazing Manicotti Recipe

Amazing-Manicotti-RecipeMy 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.

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  • 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-RecipeAfter 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 When I originally made the filling, sugar as one of the ingredients surprised me, but it really pulls it all togetherAmazing-Manicotti-Recipe

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
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

A Pinterest collage photo of Amazing Manicotti Recipe. It has one photo in it.

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5.0 from 7 reviews
Amazing Manicotti Recipe
 
Print
Prep time
1 hour
Cook time
45 mins
Total time
1 hour 45 mins
 
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!
3.4.3177

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A Pinterest collage photo of Amazing Manicotti Recipe. It has two photos in it.

Casseroles, Dinners, Family Favorite Recipes, Italian, Pasta, Reader Favorites, Recipes
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18 Comments

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18 Comments

  1. Hannah

    December 10, 2019 at 2:15 pm

    Super easy and delicious! I put the ricotta and mozzarella mix into a sandwich sized baggie and cut off one side of the bottom tip and squeeze the mix into the cooked noodles like a piping bag and it was super easy!

    to Hannah" aria-label='reply to this comment to Hannah'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      May 6, 2020 at 2:23 pm

      Awesome! Great idea! I’m glad you loved the recipe.

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
    • Megan collins

      August 18, 2021 at 3:48 pm

      Such a good recipe! I like making the homemade spaghetti sauce with tomorrow from my garden! #augustgiveaway

      to Megan collins" aria-label='reply to this comment to Megan collins'>reply to this comment
      • Maria

        August 26, 2021 at 3:26 am

        Yum! Nothing better than sauce from homegrown tomatoes! So glad you like the manicotti!

        to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  2. Kristy

    March 2, 2020 at 11:48 pm

    Can you use dried minced onions instead?

    to Kristy" aria-label='reply to this comment to Kristy'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      April 2, 2020 at 12:13 pm

      Yes, if you re-hydrate them first. I would also add a little extra.

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  3. Maddie

    April 1, 2020 at 11:15 pm

    Amazing!! Everyone in my family especially loved how sweet and delicious the cheese filling is!

    to Maddie" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maddie'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      April 2, 2020 at 1:51 am

      Yay! I love hearing that and I agree 100%! One of my favorite recipes!

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  4. Simeon

    January 22, 2021 at 9:03 am

    I love the authentic taste of this recipe!!! Soooo good!

    to Simeon" aria-label='reply to this comment to Simeon'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      January 22, 2021 at 9:07 am

      Thank you!

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  5. Jackie

    May 28, 2021 at 2:02 pm

    I love this recipe! Everything tastes so fresh and authentic. It takes a lot of time, but it’s worth it! And I love to think that olive oil was so foreign to us back in the day. Ha ha ha!

    to Jackie" aria-label='reply to this comment to Jackie'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      January 5, 2022 at 9:04 am

      I am so glad you gave me this recipe. It is the bomb! And yes, it’s hilarious to think that I had never cooked with olive oil before.

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  6. Amy

    September 9, 2021 at 9:39 am

    Can you make this ahead of time?

    to Amy" aria-label='reply to this comment to Amy'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      September 27, 2021 at 4:44 am

      Yes, you can cover it and keep it in the fridge for two days before baking if desired.

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  7. Steve

    December 31, 2021 at 11:05 am

    I made the recipe exactly as written. It came out fantastic!! The only suggestion I have is when making the filling, double the ingredients. The original version only filled 6 manicotti shells.

    to Steve" aria-label='reply to this comment to Steve'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      January 4, 2022 at 4:52 am

      Hi Steve! I am so glad you like the recipe! It is one of our favorites!

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  8. Sherry

    January 1, 2023 at 6:37 pm

    Making for dinner, haven’t read all comments but I don’t cook pasta first, much easier to fill and with 40+ baking time pasta will cook in oven. Sauce is delicious never thought to put chunky tomatoes in sauce very good! Definitely a keeper. Made full batch and going to freeze some. I also added Italian sausage to sauce. Thank you for recipe!

    to Sherry" aria-label='reply to this comment to Sherry'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      January 4, 2023 at 5:02 am

      LOVE the idea to not bake the pasta! Definitely trying that next time. I do that with a simple lasagna recipe, but never thought to do it with manicotti. Thank you!

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment

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Hi, I'm Maria. A mom of five and a total foodie. My superpower is taking ordinary recipes and making them DELICIOUS. Your family will LOVE these meals! Come cook with me, I promise it will be amazing! Get started here or search my archives below.


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