Easy Manicotti Recipe

I just love easy make-ahead recipes.

This one is adapted from (I'm one who can never leave a recipe alone)  Becky Smith's Easy Peasy Manicotti Bake. 

First, cook Manicotti according to the package instructions; usually boil for 7 minutes. While bringing water to a boil, brown 2 lbs of Italian sausage - I prefer Johnsonville.

Drain the sausage and add 1 can of
1 Can Dei Fratelli Italian Sauce. You can substitue this with a jar of spaghetti sauce, but it probably won't be as good :-)

Just sayin'.

(In all seriousness though, Muir Glen Organic Tomato sauce is a close second if you can't find Dei Fratelli. It will take 2 cans of Muir Glen, since they are smaller.)

Drain the noodles and stuff with string cheese.

Cover with sauce mixture and sprinkle with Chef Paul Prudhomme's Pizza and Pasta Magic.

 Once again, substitute at your own risk.

Cover with shredded mozzarella cheese.

Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Uncover and cook an additional 15 minutes. See below for make-ahead directions.

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Easy Manicotti Bake

Preheat oven to 350. Spray baking/casserole dish with Pam.


1 pkg manicotti noodles (14 per pack)


1 Pack of string cheese (note: Make sure you buy enough string cheese. Often there are only 12 sticks in a package of string cheese.)


2 lbs Italian Sausage


1 Can Dei Fratelli Italian Sauce

Chef Paul Prudhomme's pizza and pasta magic


1 two-cup package of shredded mozzarella cheese

*Note: Since there are only two of us I make half of this, or put it in two smaller pans and freeze one pan for later.

Printer Friendly PDF - includes make-ahead directions.




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1. Prepare noodles according to package directions – usually boil for 7 minutes and drain.


2. Brown Italian Sausage


3. Drain meat; add Italian sauce and mix


4. Drain noodles; stuff with string cheese. Place in pan.


5. Cover noodles with sauce mixture.


6. Sprinkle with Chef Paul Prudhomme's pizza and pasta magic


7. Cover with shredded cheese.


8. Bake at 350 degrees covered with foil for 45 minutes and then uncovered for 15 minutes.


-or-


Cover with plastic wrap and then foil and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Remove plastic wrap and cover with foil, bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes, uncover and cook 15-20 minutes longer.


-or-


Cover with plastic wrap and then foil and freeze up to one month. Remove plastic wrap and cover with foil, bake at 350 degrees for two hours, uncovering for the last 15-20 minutes.