How to Make Cheese Manicotti (Easy Recipe)

This Easy Cheese Manicotti is stuffed with a rich blend of three cheeses, topped with a delicious homemade marinara sauce, and baked to golden, bubbly perfection! It's the ultimate comfort food that everyone will love.

Easy Cheese Manicotti Recipe

My family loves Italian food and we eat pasta usually two or three nights a week for supper and more than that if you count all the mac and cheese eaten for lunch. Needless to say, pasta is a favorite thing around here and that includes this easy cheese-stuffed manicotti recipe!

With three different kinds of cheese and a homemade marinara sauce, you cannot beat the flavors of this Baked Manicotti recipe. You can also change up this manicotti recipe with meat. For the carnivores in your house, just add some crumbled Italian sausage or ground beef to the marinara sauce, and you're all set!

Why You'll Love This Baked Manicotti

There are so many reasons to love stuffed manicotti! Here are just a few:

1. Rich and Comforting – The combination of cheese, pasta, and flavorful marinara sauce makes it the ultimate comfort food.
2. Crowd-Pleaser – Whether serving family, guests, or picky eaters, manicotti is always a hit.
3. Customizable – You can switch up the filling with different cheeses, add spinach, or even incorporate meat for extra heartiness.
4. Make-Ahead Friendly – It’s easy to prepare in advance, making it perfect for busy nights or meal prep.
5. Great for Special Occasions – This dish feels special enough for holidays and dinner parties but is simple enough for a cozy weeknight meal.
6. Pairs Well with Many Sides – From garlic bread to fresh salads, manicotti complements a variety of side dishes.
7. Cheesy, Saucy Goodness – If you love cheese and marinara sauce, manicotti delivers both in every delicious bite!

Equipment Needed

• Large skillet
• Mixing Bowl (medium or large bowl)
• Large Pot
• Strainer
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Piping Bag or Large Zip-top Bag
• Large Baking Dish or Casserole Dish (9x13 is the size that works best)
• Aluminum Foil 

Homemade Manicotti Ingredients

Don't be intimidated by this easy manicotti recipe's long list of ingredients. Everything listed here can be found in your local grocery store, and you may already have most of it in your pantry!

Marinara Sauce

• Olive oil
• Onion, finely diced
• Garlic, minced
• Crushed tomatoes
• Italian seasoning
• Salt
• Pepper
• Red pepper flakes

Cheese Filling

• Ricotta cheese - I have substituted cottage cheese for ricotta and the texture is slightly different but it still tastes amazing!
• Italian seasoning
• Pepper
• Salt
• Egg
• Finely chopped parsley
• Parmesan cheese, freshly shredded
• Mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded

Assembly

• Manicotti pasta 
• Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• Mozzarella cheese, freshly grated
• Parsley, minced (for garnish)

Find the complete recipe with ingredients measurements in the recipe card below.

How to Make Manicotti

This recipe for manicotti is broken down into easy steps for cooks of all levels. Let's get started!

Marinara Sauce

This delicious marinara sauce is really easy to make and you may never eat jarred sauce again after eating this!

1. Add a tablespoon of oil to a skillet and heat over medium heat. 
2. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 4-6 minutes.
3. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute. 
4. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and gently simmer for 15-20 minutes. This will help it thicken. 

 Cheese Filling

1. In a medium bowl, mix the ricotta, parsley, Italian seasoning, pepper, salt, egg, and parsley. 
2. Add both cheeses and mix until combined. 
3. Set the cheese mixture aside.

Manicotti Noodles and Assembly

Quick note - do not follow the package directions for the uncooked manicotti. See the specific instructions below for the recommended cooking time 

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. See my pro tips below about how much salt to add to boil pasta. 
3. Place the manicotti shells in the boiling water and cook them for 2 minutes - the manicotti tubes will be al dente. Gently strain them. If they are cooked fully before filling and baking, they are very difficult to fill and get too soft and mushy in the oven.
4. Rinse with cold water to cool them and prevent them from sticking.
5. Pour and spread about 1- 1 ½ cups tomato sauce on the bottom of the baking dish and set aside.
6. The easiest way to fill the large tubes of pasta is to add the ricotta mixture to a pastry bag (or a zip-top plastic bag), cut the tip, and fill each par-boiled shell full (about 3 tablespoons). Alternatively, you can use a small spoon and/or your fingers to fill the shells. 
7. Place the stuffed manicotti shells in the bottom of the dish and line them side-by-side in 2 rows in a single layer. Continue until all shells are filled. 
8. Pour the remaining sauce over the pasta tubes, cover with foil, and bake until pasta is tender, about 45-55 minutes. 
9. Uncover, top with parmesan and mozzarella cheese and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese is melty. 
10. Sprinkle with additional parsley and serve. Enjoy!

Pro Tips

Fresh Cheese. Freshly shredded cheese in the manicotti filling recipe makes a huge difference in this recipe. Pre-shredded cheese is covered in starch to prevent it from clumping, but it also makes the cheese grainy and difficult to melt. If you use fresh shredded cheese, you get that delicious melty mozzarella texture that is to die for in the cheesy filling.

Store-bought Marinara Sauce. You can use jarred marinara sauce or spaghetti sauce instead of making a homemade sauce, if desired. You will need about 1 ½ jars of pasta sauce. 

Customize the Recipe. This stuffed pasta recipe can be customized easily. Add chopped fresh basil or even chopped spinach to the mixture for some fiber and greens. Add crumbled Italian sausage or ground beef to add protein for a meat sauce. Manicotti with meat is even heartier and any will hit the spot for the protein lover in your family!

Salted Water. A good rule of thumb for boiling pasta is to add about 1-2 tablespoons of salt per gallon of water (roughly 4-6 quarts of water per pound of pasta). The water should taste slightly salty, like seawater, to properly season the pasta as it cooks. 

Feed a Large Crowd. Double the recipe easily and feed a crowd or take this dish to a potluck!

Can Manicotti Be Made Ahead?

Manicotti stuffed shells can be made in advance and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days before baking. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes if baking is cold. Add the cheese on top at the same point as if baking hot (when the noodles are cooked).

Manicotti can be made in advance and put in the freezer for up to 2 months before baking. Bake an additional 15-20 minutes if baking from frozen.

Serving Suggestions

This Italian Manicotti recipe is comfort food at it's best and it pairs well with a variety of sides to create a balanced meal. Add a side or two for the perfect meal. Here are some great serving suggestions:

• Garlic Bread or Breadsticks – Crispy, buttery garlic bread or warm breadsticks are perfect for soaking up extra marinara sauce.
• Fresh Salad – A fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette (such as a Caesar or an Italian chopped salad) helps balance the richness of the pasta.
• Roasted or Sautéed Vegetables – Serve with roasted zucchini, bell peppers, asparagus, or sautéed spinach for added color and nutrition.