Baked Manicotti Recipe
Savory Italian sausage, creamy ricotta, and rich tomato sauce come together in this baked manicotti to create a comforting, crowd-pleasing meal. It’s a simple dish to prepare, packed with flavor, and perfect for busy weeknights or casual family dinners.
Servings: 12 people
Calories: 421kcal
Equipment
- 7 quart Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian Sausage ground
- 1 onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups water
- 1 pound medium shell pasta uncooked
- 14 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ¾ teaspoon fresh basil
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 8 ounces ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese
- 4 ounces Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- In a Dutch oven, cook sausage and onion over medium heat, about 5 minutes. Drain well.
- Bring to a boil pasta until it is soft, about 5-10 minutes.
- Stir in garlic, about 30 seconds. Stir in water, pasta, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, sugar, basil, Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add pasta and water to the pot. Stir to coat.
- Drop large spoonfuls of ricotta on top of pasta. Sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan. Bake until cheese is melted , about 15 to 20 minutes.
Notes
- Drain excess grease from the sausage to keep the sauce from becoming oily.
- Let the sauce simmer briefly before adding pasta to deepen the flavor and reduce watery texture.
- Assemble the dish a day ahead and refrigerate for easy meal prep—add extra baking time when cooking.
Nutrition
Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 735mg | Potassium: 399mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 441IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 281mg | Iron: 2mg
