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    Home » Recipes » Main Dish

    Best Manicotti EVER

    Published: Oct 11, 2021 · Modified: Oct 18, 2022 by Nicole · This post may contain affiliate links · 11 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    manicotti on a plate with words "Best Manicotti Ever".

    This homemade Manicotti pasta recipe is cheese baked perfection and easy to make with a flavorful filling packed with cheese, chicken and spinach. The yummy manicotti pasta shells have an easy to make meat filling that's cheesy chicken spinach deliciousness. These are great for feeding a crowd or a cozy night in.

    manicotti on a plate.

    These delicious Manicotti pasta shells are great year round but have a special warm coziness during the cooler months. Serve with our yummy Roasted Zucchini.

    This was inspired by our Cheesy Spaghetti Squash Boats and pairs perfectly with some Air Fryer Asparagus.

    What I Love About It

    I love how warm and cozy it is biting into a noodle stuffed with cheese, spinach, spices and chicken, covered in marinara sauce and cheese. I love that it looks fancy but it's pretty quick and easy to make. I love that this is a no boil recipe, to reduce steps. I love that it's a meal I can make and not listen to anyone complain- everyone enjoys it!

    Ingredients

    ingredients to make manicotti.
    • manicotti pasta shells- no boiling ahead of time!
    • shredded chicken
    • marinara sauce
    • cheeses for that yummy cheesy deliciousness
      • cream cheese, mozzarella, parmesan and ricotta
    • eggs
    • frozen spinach, thawed with the water squeezed out
    • spices (can substitute Italian seasoning if desired)
      • parsley, oregano, basil
    • garlic powder
    • salt
    • pepper
    • red pepper flakes (optional)

    Instructions

    chicken, spinach, cheeses, eggs and spices in a bowl.

    1. Preheat oven to 350* F. Wring out thawed spinach using a paper towel. In a large bowl put in the parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, cream cheese and ricotta cheese, eggs, spinach and spices. Stir with a spatula to combine. Stir in the chicken.

    chicken, spinach, spices, eggs and cheeses mixed together in a bowl.

    2. Place the mixture in a gallon size Ziploc bag and snip a corner off. I've found that around a ½" diameter hole works well for me. Too small, and it comes out too slowly, too big and it gets messy.

    filling being pushed into manicotti pasta shells.

    3. Pour 2 cups marinara sauce at the bottom of a 9x13 or equivalent sized pan. Place the hole of the bag inside one end of the manicotti and fill with the cheese mixture to the end. If it didn't fill the other end, flip it around a fill the other side using the same method.

    cheesy red pasta in a dish ready to bake.

    4. Place the manicotti into the pan on top of the sauce and repeat until all the manicotti shells are full. Top with an additional 2 cups of marinara sauce. Sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top, to taste. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake at 350*F covered for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes, or until cheese has reached desired meltiness/ crispness.

    baked red pasta with melty cheese on top.

    Hint: As I've made this, I've discovered that wringing out all the water from the spinach makes a big difference. I usually squeeze out what I can by hand, then roll it in a paper towel and wring it tightly until it stops leaking water. After doing this, the spinach will be clumped together. Break it up before adding it in.

    Substitutions

    • Italian Sausage- switch the shredded chicken for ½ pound cooked Italian Sausage.
    • Alfredo- follow all the directions above, except use your favorite Alfredo sauce instead of marinara sauce.
    • Without Meat- simply omit the chicken, no other alterations necessary

    Variations

    • Extra Easy- skip the spices (it will be less flavorful but still delicious) and make as otherwise directed
    • Spicy- add an extra 1 ¼ teaspoons (for 1 ½ teaspoons total) of chili pepper flakes
    • Manicotti Stuffed Jumbo Shells- boil the shells about 7 minutes, until they are flexible, but not longer or they are too difficult to work with! Drain the shells and complete everything else as normal.
    • Healthy- This is definitely a comfort meal, and sometimes I crave manicotti but want it to be a little lighter. Double the meat, double the spinach and reduce all cheeses by ⅓.
    • Seafood- omit the chicken and use x-small shrimp instead. Remove the tails and cut in half crosswise.

    Storage & Make Ahead

    The filling stores in the freezer beautifully. When I make this, I often make a double batch of the filling and store half of it in the freezer to use in the future. Thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours to use the filling this way.

    These also make a great freezer meal: Make the whole thing other than baking it. Cover with foil and store in the freezer until ready to use. Add an additional 30 minutes of covered baking time.

    Leftovers: Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

    Equipment

    • large ziploc bag
    • 9x13 pan
    • mixing bowl
    • spatula

    Top Tip:

    The best and easiest way to fill manicotti shells is to scoop the filling into a piping bag, insert the corner into the pasta and squeeze the filling out into the shell, filling the other end if necessary. If you don't have a piping bag, simply stick it in a ziploc bag, and snip off the corner. The hole should be around ½-5/8" diameter. This allows the filling to come out easily, but also enables you to stick the bag inside the tube.

    Recipe

    baked red pasta with melty cheese on top.

    Best Manicotti Recipe EVER

    Nicole
    This best ever easy homemade chicken spinach manicotti recipe is baked cheese pasta shells perfection. It's easy to make and loved by everyone!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
    Servings 9 servings
    Calories/serving 349 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 package manicotti shells 12-14, uncooked
    • 4 ½ cups marinara sauce
    • 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese plus more to put on top
    • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese plus more to put on top
    • 4 oz. cream cheese
    • 1 15 oz. tub ricotta cheese
    • 2 eggs
    • 10 oz. frozen spinach thaw, drain, and squeeze the water out
    • 8 oz. shredded chicken
    • 1 teaspoon parsley
    • 1 teaspoon oregano
    • 1 teaspoon basil
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

    Instructions
     

    • Wring out all the water from the spinach. I usually squeeze out what I can by hand, then roll it in a paper towel and wring it tightly until it stops leaking water. After doing this, the spinach will be clumped together. Break it up before adding it in.
    • Combine all of the cheeses, eggs, spinach, shredded chicken and spices into a large bowl and mix well with a spatula.
    • Place the mixture in a gallon size Ziploc bag and snip a corner off. I've found that around a ½" diameter hole works well for me. 
    • Pour 2 cups marinara sauce at the bottom of a 9x13 or equivalent sized pan.
    • Place the hole inside one end of the uncooked manicotti pasta shell and fill with the cheese mixture to the end. If it didn't fill the other end, flip it around and fill the other side. There is plenty of filling, so don't be scant!
    • Place the manicotti into the pan and repeat until all the manicotti  pasta shells are full.
    • Top with an additional 2 ½ cups marinara sauce.
    • Top with mozzarella and parmesan to taste (we like ours cheesy).
    • Cover the pan with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 covered for 45 minutes, then 15 minutes uncovered or until cheese reaches desired doneness. 
    • Enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    The filling stores in the freezer beautifully. Sometimes I make a double batch and save the leftover filling to use in the future.
    This makes a great freezer meal! Complete steps 1-8 then cover and put in the freezer. On day of use, don't thaw, just bake 30 minutes longer, covered.
    These make great leftovers! Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1.5manicottiCalories: 349kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 31gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.003gCholesterol: 92mgSodium: 1183mgPotassium: 732mgFiber: 4gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 4709IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 515mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was in the comments below
    Tag us on Instagram!We love seeing people make our recipes. Mention @simplyscrumptiouseats_
    How to Make Manicotti

    Make a delicious filling of cheeses, spinach and chicken. Pour marinara sauce on the bottom of your pan, fill manicotti pasta and place on top. Top with more marinara and parmesan cheese. Bake covered for 45 minutes, then 15 minutes uncovered.

    How long to bake Manicotti

    Bake at 350*F covered for 45 minutes, then 15 minutes uncovered.

    How long to cook Manicotti in the oven.

    Bake covered with aluminum foil for 45 minutes, then 15 minutes uncovered, or until cheese reaches desired meltiness.

    How to fill Manicotti

    Place filling in a large ziploc bag. Cut a hole in one corner, ½" in diameter. Place bag next to hole of uncooked manicotti shell then squeeze filling into it. If it doesn't go all the way to the other end, repeat on the other end.

    What is Manicotti?

    They are a type of large pasta tube, usually ridged. Traditionally filled with ricotta cheese and spinach, it makes a great entree.

    How to Cook Manicotti?

    To cook, simply fill your pasta shells with filling, place a layer of marinara sauce, then the shells, then more marinara sauce to cover the noodles. Then bake in the oven, allowing the pasta to cook in the sauce while it bakes.

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jacob Winegardner

      October 18, 2021 at 8:05 am

      5 stars
      This was a really good recipe. I've made stuffed manicotti before and it's always been a little blah. This one was really really falvorful and tasty

      Reply
    2. Jess

      January 11, 2022 at 7:33 pm

      5 stars
      This manicotti is full of all the right things! Amazing recipe!

      Reply
    3. Shadi Hasanzade

      January 19, 2022 at 7:29 am

      5 stars
      Easy and delicious, this manicotti recipe is a keeper. I know I’m going to make it over and over again! My kids loved it and didn't complain about the spinach! meat, cheese, noddles, spinach...kids love it.... Thank YOU!

      Reply
    4. Zach

      January 31, 2022 at 9:36 pm

      5 stars
      I turned it into a lasagna because I couldn't find manicotti or jumbo shells, but it was SOOOO good. Absolutely amazing. This will definitely be a stable in my house.

      Reply
    5. Beth

      February 01, 2022 at 11:02 am

      5 stars
      This is one of the best manicotti recipes I've ever made! I was interested when I saw it included chicken, and I'm so glad I tried it.

      Reply
    6. Dannii

      March 22, 2022 at 9:31 pm

      5 stars
      We can never have too many pasta recipes in our house and everyone loved these stuffed manicotti pasta shells. So much flavour and really filling too.

      Reply
    7. Claudia Lamascolo

      April 15, 2022 at 10:19 pm

      5 stars
      This manicotti recipe was delicious we will make them again! It was a big hit for my sons birthday with it's cheesy baked goodness!

      Reply
    8. Mahy

      April 29, 2022 at 10:21 pm

      5 stars
      Manicotti pasta never disappoints! And this recipe is a great one, can't wait to make it again!

      Reply
    9. Savita

      May 19, 2022 at 6:23 pm

      5 stars
      This manicotti recipe is so easy and quick to make. Loved the recipe, it turned out so good, I think it's the best I ever had.

      Reply
    10. Toni

      August 01, 2022 at 3:16 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a perfect recipe! I tried it and turned out so good, we loved the chicken and spinach! It's so flavorful and yummy. Quickly became a favorite at my house!

      Reply
    11. Casey

      August 23, 2022 at 8:26 am

      5 stars
      YUM! This was so good! I subbed Italian Sausage for the chicken and it was amazing and full of flavor!! Will try it with chicken next time, too. It was a hit!

      Reply

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    nicole and andrea

    Hi, we are Nicole and Andrea! As busy moms our favorite meals are easy, healthy and delicious. While we love eating nutritious meals, we also strongly believe in moderating them with yummy desserts! We love hiking, going to the beach and doing Spartans.

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