Cheese Cannelloni Stuffed With Ricotta

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.

Mix the filling according to the recipe below.
Spoon filling into a piping bag or a freezer bag with the corner cut off.
Squeeze filling into oven-ready cannelloni tubes.

Tip: Cannelloni is filled dry and the sauce softens the pasta as it bakes. Cook time can vary from brand to brand so make note of what the box you purchase suggests for cook time. Depending on the brand, I sometimes soak them in a bowl of very hot water for about 5-7 minutes before I fill them, this helps them begin softening.

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