Try This TikTok Hack for the Easiest Stuffed Manicotti!
Use this smart hack to make delicious stuffed manicotti with string cheese!
This baked manicotti casserole is cheesy and EASY! If your family is always up for trying a unique pasta meal, let’s create a delicious stuffed manicotti bake featuring a quick Italian sausage marinara sauce and a few types of cheeses. The result is a satisfying casserole-type dinner the entire family will love, using common ingredients and a simple process!
What is manicotti pasta?
Manicotti are large pasta tubes intended to be stuffed and baked. The literal meaning is “little sleeves”. Traditionally, it’s often stuffed with a cheese mixture and baked in tomato sauce.
Try this shortcut!
Instead of taking the time to mix up an egg, ricotta, and shredded cheese mixture to stuff each tube, we’re gonna make string cheese manicotti instead! It’s a fun and quick recipe shortcut to try for a low-effort meal that works perfectly.
➡️ Watch how easy this stuffed, string cheese manicotti is to make on YouTube!
String Cheese Stuffed Manicotti
yield: 5 SERVINGS
prep time: 15 MINUTES
cook time: 25 MINUTES
total time: 40 MINUTES
Manicotti pasta stuffed with string cheese, baked with Italian sausage, marinara, and shredded cheeses.
Ingredients
- 8 oz. package manicotti pasta
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 24 ounces marinara sauce from a jar
- 10 string cheese sticks
- 1 cup shredded mozzerella cheese
- 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Directions
1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2
Cook and drain the pasta.
3
While the pasta is cooking, crumble and cook the Italian sausage on the stove in a skillet on medium heat. Drain the fat, and stir in the marinara sauce.
4
Grab a 9x13 casserole dish, and pour in half of the sauce mixture. Spread it evenly.
5
Insert the string cheese sticks into the pasta tubes and place them in the casserole dish. Cover the top with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle both cheeses over the top.
6
Cover the dish with foil, and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake it for another 5-10 minutes until melted and bubbling. Remove from the oven, top with basil, and enjoy!
Helpful Tips for Making this String Cheese Stuffed Manicotti Recipe:
- I used 10 manicotti shells even though there are a few more in the package. That is what fits in my casserole dish without crowding, but you can maybe fit in a couple more, if desired.
- Feel free to season the sauce as desired, use a different ground meat, or maybe create a vegetarian version with sautéed veggies. This can all be edited to taste.
- Prep this string cheese manicotti a day ahead of time! Then store it in the fridge, and have it all ready to go before dinnertime. You could also freeze it for up to 6 months as a freezer meal.
This baked stuffed manicotti was a hit at my house!
The mozzarella cheese melts perfectly inside the pasta shells. Make a quick salad as a quick suggestion for a complete meal. My teenagers were super excited to dig into this stuffed manicotti with string cheese after school and sports practices.
During the school year or when our schedules are hectic, I’ve been trying to think of easy meals like this one. Plus, I can confirm the leftovers are yummy warmed up the next day!
Love Italian food? Next, make this easy 3-ingredient lasagna from frozen ravioli!
Love this recipe! I’ve been making it for years since I saw it on Taste of Home. So good and simple. I use Ina Garten’s method of soaking the noodles in hot water for 20 minutes. Makes it an easy meal to assemble, bake, then serve with salad and bread sticks.
Glad to hear you love this recipe, Karen! 😊 Thanks for sharing how you soak the noodles! 💕