Manicotti — Ad-Free Recipe, Ingredients First

A piping bag is the difference between filled manicotti and a torn mess, since spooning into a long tube shreds it; snip the corner of a zip bag if you have none. Boil the tubes only until barely bendable so they survive the stuffing.

The Ingredients — and where to get them

Cook for 6 servings

Manicotti tubes

Long pasta tubes made for stuffing; boil to just bendable and cool before piping.

1 (8 oz) box

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Ricotta

Whole-milk ricotta is the heart of the filling; drain it so the tubes do not weep.

2 lb

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Canned tomatoes

Crushed tomatoes cooked into the sauce that surrounds and tops the tubes.

1 (28 oz) can

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Mozzarella

Shredded low-moisture mozzarella over the top for the melt.

8 oz, shredded

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Parmesan

Grated into the filling and over the top for savory browning.

1 cup grated

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Olive oil

For the sauce and the aromatics.

3 tbsp

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Eggs, garlic, and parsley

Two eggs to set the filling, garlic for the sauce, parsley folded into the ricotta.

2 eggs, 3 cloves, handful parsley

Eggs → Garlic →

The Rundown

Greedometer ●●●●● Barely a splurge

A light hand — your arteries say thanks.

EffortSome doing

Cook it with

Air fryerOne-potSheet pan

The Method

Make the sauceCook garlic in oil, add crushed tomatoes, and simmer 20 minutes until thickened.
Boil and coolBoil the tubes until just bendable, about 7 minutes, then drain and cool so you can handle them.
Pipe the fillingBeat ricotta with parmesan, eggs, parsley, and salt, then pipe it into each tube from both ends.
Assemble and bakeLay the tubes in sauce, top with more sauce and mozzarella, and bake covered at 375F for 30 minutes, uncovering the last 10.

The Toolkit

Baking dish · Piping bag · Large pot · Fine grater · Colander

Straight Answers

Can you make Manicotti in an air fryer? — Yes

Yes — this is exactly what an air fryer does well. Work in a single layer so the air can move, and shake or flip halfway for even crisping. It runs a touch faster than the oven, so check early.

Can you freeze Manicotti? — Yes

Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.

Can you make Manicotti ahead of time? — Prep ahead

Best fried to order — the crunch fades if it sits. Do the breading or shaping ahead and cook it fresh when you serve.

Is Manicotti gluten-free? — Yes

Yes — nothing in this recipe as written contains gluten. As always, glance at the labels on any packaged items (broth, sauces, chocolate), since brands vary.

Is Manicotti vegan? — Vegetarian, not vegan

It’s vegetarian but not vegan as written — it has dairy and egg. Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy, and a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.

Community Notes

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© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.428

Manicotti, and where to source it