Cheesy Italian Sausage Stuffed Manicotti

This easy Cheesy Italian Sausage Stuffed Manicotti is easy enough for a weekday and tasty enough for a special dinner with friends. Manicotti tubes are stuffed with a mouthwatering Italian sausage filling then smothered in marinara sauce and lots of cheese. It's fantastic for make-ahead meal prep as you can assemble in advance and chill then have it ready to bake when you're ready to eat.  Chocked full of robust Italian flavors with little fuss.

Cheesy Italian Sausage Stuffed Manicotti

Italian food and pasta dishes are uber popular in the South. While we love our down home comfort foods, different regions in the South are influenced by those who immigrated there. Those who came to our country and settled in particular areas brought with them their style of food and how to make it using the resources available.  Fast forward to our lives today and you'll find Southern cuisine is constantly evolving and inclusive of all types of flavors from all over the world. Dishes like this stuffed manicotti prove it. It's not all about the gravy, y'all.

Helpful Tips for Making Sausage Stuffed Manicotti

• What makes this pasta dish easy to assemble?  A simple snip using kitchen shears and the shells open up to be filled with ease.
• No need to use a pastry bag or get frustrated with filling the shells, it's a cinch using this straightforward technique.
• Once I started doing this, stuffed manicotti began making an appearance in my kitchen more often with various fillings.
• To top this, you can use your favorite flavor of prepared marinara sauce for a time saver or use my easy homemade pizza sauce to smother these tubular beauties.
• Assemble it in advance cover and chill and you'll have dinner waiting for you when you're ready to eat.

Other Pasta Dishes to Add to the Menu

More to come folks, there are so many ways to make stuffed pasta dishes. Other recipes to try:

• Supreme Pizza Pasta Skillet is a on dish meal.
• Beef and Spinach Stuffed Shells a holiday favorite.
• Baked Pizza Spaghetti is a family favorite.
• Chicken and Broccoli Stuffed Shells smothered in Alfredo sauce.
• Mexican Chicken Manicotti  from That Skinny Chick can Bake.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• 13 x 9-inch Baking Dish
• Insulated Casserole Carrier
• Citrus/Cheese Grater
• Pasta Pot

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Cheesy Italian Sausage Stuffed Manicotti

Prep Time25 mins

Cook Time50 mins

Total Time1 hr 15 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian Inspired

Keyword: cheesy-italian-sausage-stuffed-manicotti, stuffed-manicotti-recipe

Servings: 6 (2 per person)

Calories: 709kcal

Author: Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

• 1 lb Italian sausage casings removed
• 1 medium sweet onion diced
• 2 medium garlic cloves minced
• 2 teaspoon dry Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes more or less to your taste
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 8 oz container chive and onion cream cheese softened
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
• 6 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese divided
• 2 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
• 12 manicotti shells cooked to al dente
• 4 cups prepared marinara sauce your favorite

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spritz the bottom and sides of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 2 cups marinara sauce on the bottom of the dish. Set aside.
• Cook the manicotti tubes in boiling salted water per the package instructions until al dente. (around 7 minutes) Remove to paper towels to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, drizzle a large skillet with olive oil. Add the chopped onion. Cook for 3 minutes over medium-high heat until beginning to brown then add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute longer.
• Add the Italian sausage to the skillet. Cook for 10-12 minutes or until no pink remains, Drain any excess fat from the pan.
• To the cooked sausage add the cream cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes and Worcestershire sauce. Cook over medium heat just until the cream cheese melts and is evenly distributed.
• Remove from the heat and stir in 1 ½ cup mozzarella cheese, 4 tablespoon Parmesan and chopped basil. Mix well.
• Use a pair of kitchen shears and cut each manicotti shell in a straight line. Fill with 2 heaping tablespoon filling down the middle, then press the ends together to seal. Place seam side down in the dish. Repeat filling all of the shells.
• Cover the top with the remaining 2 cups marinara sauce, spread to cover.
• Cover the manicotti with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese and 2 tablespoon Parmesan.
• Return to the oven and cook for an additional 15-20 minutes until golden and bubbly.
• Rest for 5 minutes on the counter then serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 709kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 129mg | Sodium: 2437mg | Potassium: 920mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1278IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 407mg | Iron: 4mg

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