Cheese Stuffed Manicotti is the ultimate comfort food for pasta lovers. Tender manicotti shells are filled with a rich and creamy cheese mixture, covered with marinara sauce, and baked until bubbly with perfectly melted cheese on top. It is a classic Italian-American dinner that feels special enough for Sunday dinner but is easy enough to make on a weeknight. It is also very similar to the recipe that Olive Garden uses!
This hearty baked pasta dish is perfect for feeding a family, serving guests, or preparing ahead for busy evenings. The combination of creamy ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan creates a flavorful filling that pairs beautifully with your favorite pasta sauce. Every bite is cheesy, satisfying, and packed with comforting flavors.
For more quick and easy meal recipes try Lightened up Beef Stroganoff, Easy Air Fryer Salmon, or Big Mac Tacos.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Classic Italian-American comfort food.
- Rich and creamy three cheese filling.
- Perfect for family dinners or entertaining.
- Can be assembled ahead of time.
- Great for meal prep and freezer meals.
- Easy to customize with your favorite sauce or herbs.
- Makes delicious leftovers.
Ingredients for Cheese Stuffed Manicotti
- Manicotti shells: The pasta tubes hold plenty of cheesy filling while baking until perfectly tender.
- Ricotta cheese: The creamy base of the filling that gives manicotti its signature texture.
- Mozzarella cheese: Adds gooey melted cheese throughout the filling and on top of the casserole.
- Parmesan cheese: Provides a nutty, salty flavor that balances the richness of the ricotta.
- Egg: Helps bind the cheese filling together while baking.
- Fresh parsley: Adds color and a fresh herb flavor to the filling.
- Garlic powder: Gives the filling extra savory flavor.
- Italian seasoning: Adds classic Italian herbs without needing several different spices.
- Salt and black pepper: Simple seasonings that enhance the cheese mixture.
- Marinara sauce: Your favorite jarred or homemade marinara works perfectly.
- Additional mozzarella cheese: Sprinkled over the top before baking for a bubbly golden finish.
How to Make Cheese Stuffed Manicotti
Step 1: Combine 1 ½ cups mozzarella, cottage cheese, and the next 5 ingredients (through black pepper) in a medium bowl. Spoon about 3 tablespoons cheese mixture into each uncooked manicotti.
Recipe Tip: You can use a piping bag or a spoon to fill the manicotti tubes with the filling mixture. Gently push the filling into each tube until it is full. Repeat this process until all the tubes are filled.
Step 2: Pour half of tomato-basil pasta sauce into a 9 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange stuffed shells in a single layer over sauce, and top with the remaining sauce. Pour 1 cup water into dish. Bake at 375° for 1 hour or until shells are tender. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Step 3: Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup mozzarella evenly over sauce. Cover tightly with foil.
Pro Tips for Cheese Manicotti
- Cook the pasta just until al dente to prevent the shells from tearing.
- Rinsing the pasta with cool water makes the shells easier to handle while filling.
- Using a piping bag or zip top bag makes filling the manicotti much faster and less messy.
- Covering the pasta with sauce helps keep the manicotti moist while baking.
- Freshly shredded mozzarella melts better than pre shredded cheese.
- Add chopped spinach to the cheese mixture for extra flavor and nutrition.
Storage
Store leftover manicotti in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm larger portions in a 350 degree F oven until heated through.
This recipe also freezes well. Assemble the manicotti before baking, cover tightly with foil, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking or bake directly from frozen, adding additional baking time as needed.
Serving Suggestions
Cheese Stuffed Manicotti pairs well with many classic Italian side dishes.
Serve it with garlic bread, breadsticks, or warm Italian bread to soak up the extra marinara sauce.
A crisp Caesar salad or simple garden salad adds freshness and balances the richness of the pasta.
Roasted broccoli, green beans, asparagus, or zucchini also make excellent vegetable side dishes.
Finish dinner with tiramisu, cannoli, or Italian cookies for a complete Italian-inspired meal.
Recipe Faqs
Assemble the dish and cover tightly with saran wrap. When ready to eat take the dish out of the fridge and bake according to the time and instructions listed below.
Let the dish cool completely and divide it into meal prep containers or Tupperware containers. When ready to eat, reheat the manicotti in the microwave for 5 to 7 minutes.
It can last in the fridge for up to 5 days.
If you tried this Cheese Stuffed Manicotti or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries
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Olive Garden Cheese Manicotti
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 1 hr
- Total Time: 80 min
- Yield: 14 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
Manicotti is a fun shaped tubular pasta and you can stuff them with pretty much anything you want. Like cheese. All kinds of cheese.
Ingredients
2 cups part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
1 (16oz) carton fat-free cottage cheese
¼ cup (1oz) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
8 manicotti shells
1 (26-ounce) jar fat-free tomato-basil pasta sauce
Cooking spray
1 cup water
Instructions
- Combine 1 ½ cups mozzarella, cottage cheese, and the next 5 ingredients (through black pepper) in a medium bowl. Spoon about 3 tablespoons cheese mixture into each uncooked manicotti.
- Pour half of tomato-basil pasta sauce into a 9 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange stuffed shells in a single layer over sauce, and top with the remaining sauce.
- Pour 1 cup water into dish. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup mozzarella evenly over sauce. Cover tightly with foil. Bake at 375° for 1 hour or until shells are tender. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
1 cheese stuffed shell is 6 smart points Points Plus: 8
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 manicotti
- Calories: 176
- Sugar: 4.7g
- Fat: 5.4g
- Saturated Fat: 2.4g
- Carbohydrates: 22.9g
- Fiber: 2.3g
- Protein: 10g
Cheryl says
I made this for dinner tonight. Delicious! I found GF pasta! I will make it again.
Jenna says
Yes, assemble up to baking point then place saran wrap around the dish and freeze.
Jenna says
Yes
Elaine says
Can you freeze leftovers?
Beth says
This looks yummy!!