Bake This Easy Stuffed Manicotti Casserole Using String Cheese!
Use this smart hack to make a delicious melted cheese-stuffed manicotti and sausage casserole for dinner tonight!
Here’s a baked manicotti casserole that’s cheesy and EASY!
If your family is always up to trying a unique pasta meal, let’s create a delicious 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!
Watch how easy this is to make on YouTube!
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.
Instead of taking the time to mix up an egg, ricotta, and shredded cheese mixture to stuff each tube, we’re gonna use string cheese sticks! It’s a fun and quick recipe shortcut to try for a low effort meal, that works perfectly.
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 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 sauteed veggies. This can all be edited to taste.
- Prep this 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 after school and sports practices.
We already went back to school this week, so I’ve been trying to think of easy meals like this. Plus I can confirm the leftovers are yummy warmed up the next day.
Next, make this easy 3 ingredient lasagna from frozen ravioli!
Lina, I love most everything you post on H2S, but on this TikTok recipe, I have to say, “NO!” This isn’t what baked manicotti is meant to be.
Aww its just a different variation but thanks for your feedback Deb! I understand!
Enjoy!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CvXYESNrHug/
Lol!
Lina, you have brought us yet another great recipe. As I was reading this, I got a text notification that WinCo has string cheese on sale. Perfect timing! 😀 I can’t wait to try it.
Oh perfect! Thanks for your feedback April! We thought it was tasty.
Can I print this recipe directly from here?
Yes! There is a print option near the top and the bottom of the post. 🥰
Thank you so much Amber
You bet! Glad to help! 🤗
I can see this being a quick and cheaper variation but as an Italian, I just can’t. I might even be shunned from the Italian community 😂
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us on this recipe, Tricia. 💕 Hoping you enjoy some of the other yummy recipes we posted here! 🤗
Thank you for this recipe. I usually make traditional Italian recipes, but this looks easy & quick for our camping trips. I’ll mix in real herbs & garlic. I can make ahead of time & just warm it up.
You’re very welcome, Renee! Such a good idea to make ahead for a quick and easy meal when camping! ❤️
Made my own sauce and the stuffed manicotti from your recipe. Now one of our favs
Oh that sounds fabulous! Thanks for sharing Karen!