Cannelloni pasta tubes are stuffed with a rich and flavorful ricotta filling, then covered in marinara and a generous topping of mozzarella!
What Exactly is Cannelloni? Cannelloni is a stuffed pasta dish (not to be confused with cannoli, which is a sweet dessert). Cannelloni shells can be found in most grocery stores or you can buy it online. You can substitute jumbo shells or manicotti shells (which are shorter tubes and have ridges). Either of those optoins will need to be pre-cooked. It won’t make a huge difference, but it is nice to use traditional cannelloni which is smooth and a bit longer.
Cannelloni vs. Manicotti
Cannelloni loosely translates from the Italian as “big tubes, or even “large reeds.” Traditionally cheese and vegetables or meat filling are rolled in pasta sheets before baking. Manicotti would more likely be called “crespelle” and is often made with crepes rather than pasta. Whatever the name of the pasta you use, you basically fill it with lots of creamy and savory cheese and cover it with sauce and more cheese before baking. Yum!
How to Make Cannelloni
It might seem intimidating to make, but it’s actually quite simple! Filling Cannelloni: Cannelloni is filled dry (not pre cooked like stuffed shells would be). Add the filling to a piping bag with a large dip or a freezer bag and squeeze the filling into the tubes.
Be sure to add lots of sauce . Test with a fork to make sure the pasta is cooked through before serving
Serve with…
Cheese cannelloni is a great meal and we serve it up just like homemade lasagna.
garlic bread or dinner rolls tossed salad caesar salad
Leftovers?
Cannelloni is a great make-ahead dish, and it freezes well.
Freeze in a freezer and oven safe casserole dish, tightly covered. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and bake according to the recipe directions below.
More Filled Pasta
Chicken Lasagna Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells – taco-inspired casserole Lasagna Roll Ups – baked with cheese! Pizza Stuffed Pasta Shells Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole – fav comfort foods
© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
