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    Classic 3 Cheese Baked Manicotti

     

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Let’s talk ultimate comfort food!  I’m talking delicious pasta stuffed with a smooth, creamy filling of rich Ricotta, Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheeses, punctuated with garlic, parsley and lemon and topped with zesty pasta sauce.  Classic 3 Cheese Baked Manicotti is the best of what good pasta dishes are all about!  And it’s not all that difficult, if you know one easy secret.

     

    3 Cheese Manicotti on a plate

    3 Cheese Manicotti Scripture- John 10:27

     

    I’ve always loved cheesy, saucy, romantic pasta dishes.  There is just something about them that says home cooked comfort food.  They are a perfect go-to when having guests over for dinner, to take to a family who needs a meal or just when you want to sit down and look at your own family’s faces across the table.  There’s no better incentive for slowing down schedules and making time for the dinner table than the beckoning of melting cheese and bubbling sauce.

    3 Cheese Manicotti up close on a fork

     

     

     

    And while Baked Manicotti has always been one of my favorite dishes, it wasn’t always easy fiddling with filling those slippery pasta shells until I learned a simple, easy secret that made all the difference.  It’s all in how you cook the pasta.  And drain it. 

    What You Need To Make Baked Manicotti

    • manicotti shells
    • pasta sauce
    • ricotta cheese
    • mozzarella cheese
    • Parmesan cheese
    • parsley
    • egg
    • lemon juice
    • garlic, salt, pepper
    • piping bag or large plastic zip top bag

    3 Cheese Manicotti process photo

     

    The Simple Secret to Easy Baked Manicotti

    First, the pasta should only be boiled for 5-6 minutes.  You just want to soften it, not cook it all the way through.  This makes it so much easier to work with.  Besides, it still has 30 minutes to bake in the oven smothered in sauce after we fill it.  

    Secondly, when the manicotti shells are done, never drain them in the colander.  Ever.  This was always my biggest mistake.  Piled in that colander on top of one another, my shells would collapse, split and stick together.  That doesn’t make filling them easy!

    After 5 minutes or so, remove the pasta straight from the boiling water with tongs or large slotted skimmer and place them in a single layer on wax paper.  This makes all the difference in the world when it comes to having lovely, sturdy pasta to quickly fill.

     

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    3 Cheese Manicotti in a casserole dish

     

    There’s nothing like a wonderfully inviting pasta dish to warm your friends and family when the temperatures drop.  And it’s even better when they are easy to put together and bake! 

    Can I Make This Dish Ahead of Time?

    • Yes, you can either just make the filling a day ahead or make the filling and stuff the pasta.  Just cover tightly and refrigerate.  Also bring your dish to room temperature before placing it in your preheated oven.

    Can I Freeze 3 Cheese Baked Manicotti?

    • Sure can!  Just make your filling, stuff the shells, cover with sauce and cheese and freeze.  It can be frozen after it’s baked too, but I think the pasta is better if frozen beforehand.  Make a double batch and freeze the second batch for an easy meal later!

    3 Cheese Manicotti on a plate

    What’s The Difference Between Boiling and Not Boiling Your Pasta Beforehand?

    • Quite simpy, it’s 30 minutes cooking time.  That’s right!  Not boiling the pasta might seem like it saves time on the front end, but it takes an extra 30-35 minutes to bake!  I would rather spend 5-6 minutes boiling the pasta in the beginning and save 30 later.  Plus, you have to add water to your dish, and I just think the pasta, sauce and filling taste better not being baked in extra water.

     

    Other Pasta Recipes You’ll Love

    • Easy White Ravioli Casserole
    • Rotel Chicken & Spaghetti
    • Crowd Pleasing Lasagna
    • Cheesy Beef Noodle Casserole
    • Spaghetti Stuffed Garlic Bread
    • Pizza Stuffed Pasta Shells

     

    IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, BE SURE TO LET ME KNOW!

    RATE IT, LEAVE A COMMENT OR SNAP A PHOTO.

    Tag me on Instagram at #southerndiscourse

    3 Cheese Manicotti on a plate

    Classic 3 Cheese Baked Manicotti

    Delicious pasta stuffed with an easy filling of Ricotta, Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheeses, punctuated with garlic, parsley and lemon!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Keyword: comfort food, Easy Recipe, pasta
    Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Author: Stacey | SouthernDiscourse.com

    Equipment

    • piping bag

    Ingredients

    • 10 Manicotti pasta shells
    • 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
    • 2 tsp Salt
    • 15 oz Ricotta cheese
    • 2 C Mozzarella cheese, divided into 1 1/2 C & 1/2 C
    • 1/2 C Parmesan cheese, divided into 1/4 C & 1/4 C
    • 1 large Egg
    • 1/2 C Chopped parsley
    • 1/2 tsp Salt
    • 1/2 tsp Minced garlic
    • 1/2 tsp Lemon juice
    • 1/4 tsp Ground black pepper
    • 1 jar pasta sauce

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375° Fahrenheit.
    • In a large pot, bring water, olive oil and 2 tsp of salt to a boil. Add manicotti shells. Pot should be large enough to allow manicotti shells plenty of room to move while boiling. Boil for 6 minutes only. Gently remove pasta from pot with tongs or large spoon. Place in a single layer on wax paper. Do not drain in colander. Pasta should be al dente.
    • In a medium bowl, mix together Ricotta, 1 1/2 C Mozarella, 1/4 C Parmesan and egg. Stir in parsley, lemon juice, salt, pepper and garlic. Spoon mixture into piping bag or large zip top bag and snip off the corner.
    • Spread 1/2 of pasta sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 or large casserole dish. Using the piping bag, fill each manicotti shell with cheese mixture and place side by side in casserole dish. Cover with rest of pasta sauce. Top with rest of cheese. Bake for 30-35 minutes.
    • Garnish with extra parsley before serving, if desired.

    Notes

    Instead of parsley, use fresh basil in the summer for a delicious dish that's perfect for dining al fresco!

    MAKING IT EASY TO HOST & SERVE

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    This is the BEST recipe for Classic 3 Cheese Baked Manicotti. Delicious pasta stuffed with an easy filling of Ricotta, Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheeses. #southerndiscourse #pasta #comfortfood #casserole #easyrecipe

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jennifer

      September 08, 2021 at 5:36 pm

      Made this tonight and it was really good. Will definitely make again!

      Reply
      • stacey

        September 14, 2021 at 9:05 am

        Hi, Jennifer! I am so glad you made this manicotti! All that cheesy goodness… yum. It’s hard to resist!

        Reply
    2. Janice Saddler

      September 30, 2021 at 2:07 pm

      5 stars
      My family loves this receipe! Always asking when I’ll make it again!

      Reply
      • stacey

        October 04, 2021 at 11:59 am

        Hi, Janice! That’s awesome! Thank you so much!

        Reply

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