How to Fill Stuffed Shells
Have you ever wondered how to stuff pasta shells without making a mess? If you’ve ever struggled with filling manicotti or stuffing jumbo shells, I have a super quick tip that makes the task easier than ever!
About this Simple Tip
Do you have trouble figuring out how to stuff pasta shells or filling manicotti without making a mess?
Some of you might already use this method for stuffing pasta, but if this is new to you, I’d love to hear what you think! Have you tried this trick before, or do you have another go-to method? Share in the comments—I love learning from you!
I really enjoy making stuffed pasta dishes, but let’s be honest—what a pain to fill, right? WRONG! Not when you use this best way to stuff shells—it’s a total game-changer!
In the picture, I’m not holding the shell with one hand and the bag with the other because I had to press the button on the camera, but you get the idea.
This makes it so much easier to fill stuffed shells—doesn’t it? Or, dare I say, it actually makes stuffing pasta… fun!?
Why You’ll Love this Tip
This simple trick will completely change how you stuff pasta, making the process fast, neat, and stress-free.
✔ Mess-Free – No more frustration with spoons and sticky fingers!
✔ Faster Than Ever – Get perfectly stuffed pasta in minutes.
✔ Works with Different Pastas – This trick is perfect for stuffed shells, manicotti, and cannelloni.
Tools You’ll Need to Stuff Pasta
Before we dive into the step-by-step process, gather these simple kitchen tools:
- Jumbo pasta shells, manicotti, or cannelloni
- Disposable pastry bag or quart-size ziplock bag
- Tall cup
- Scissors
- Prepared filling
★★★★★
Reader Review
“Oh my…The light bulb just went on for me! I felt incredibly frustrated when I made cannelloni not long ago…I said I’ll never do it again because it took FOREVER to fill them! THE answer is right here. How did I not know this? Thanks so much for an enlightening moment! Cheers!” —Kari
How to Fill Stuffed Shells – Step-by-Step
Follow these simple steps to fill pasta shells the easy way:
- Prep the Bag: Place a ziplock or pastry bag in a tall cup, fold edges over the rim, and spoon in the filling.
- Seal & Snip: Twist the top closed and cut a small hole in one corner.
- Fill the Shells: Squeeze the bag gently to pipe filling into each pasta shell.
- Repeat & Cook: Continue until all shells are filled, then cook as directed.
The above is simply a quick summary of this kitchen tip. Check out the full details in the free printable how-to card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.
Try This Tip with These Recipes
Now that you’ve mastered the easiest way to stuff pasta shells, put your new skill to the test with these delicious recipes:
- Manicotti Primavera – A fresh, veggie-filled take on a classic favorite.
- Sundried Tomato and Cheese Stuffed Shells – A cheesy, flavor-packed Italian dish.
Try this easy pasta-stuffing trick and share your results! Snap a photo and tag me on Instagram @goodlifeeats and use the hashtag #goodlifeeatsrecipes so I can see and share your creations!
Next time you make stuffed shells or manicotti, try this simple, mess-free method and let me know how it works for you! Here’s what readers are saying about this tip:
★★★★★
Reader Review
“So much better than trying to get sticky filling off a spoon and into a pasta shell!” —Matt
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Have you ever struggled with filling stuffed shells? Do you have your own time-saving tips? Share your experience in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!
How to Fill Stuffed Shells
Struggling to fill stuffed shells or manicotti? Try this easy piping bag trick for mess-free, perfectly filled pasta every time. No more frustration—just delicious, effortless stuffed shells!
Materials
- Pasta, such as manicotti or jumbo shells
- Pasta Filling
- Disposable pastry bag or quart size ziplock
- Tall cup
Tools
- Scissors
Instructions
Prepare Your Piping Bag:
- Place a ziplock bag or pastry bag inside a tall cup, folding the edges over the rim.
- Spoon the filling into the bag, being careful not to overfill it.
Seal & Cut the Tip:
- Remove the bag from the cup and twist the top closed to prevent spills.
- Snip off about ½ inch from one corner of the bag. The opening should be large enough for the filling to come out smoothly, but not so big that it oozes everywhere.
Fill the Pasta:
- Hold the pasta shell in one hand and the bag in the other.
- Squeeze the bag gently, piping the filling directly into the shell.
Repeat & Cook:
- Set the filled shells aside and repeat until all your pasta is stuffed.
- Cook according to your recipe’s instructions.
Notes
Katie’s Tip: This technique also works for manicotti and cannelloni! Just snip a slightly larger hole in the bag and pipe the filling right into the tubes.
Katy says
Great tip! Definitely one of those”why didn’t I think of this before” kind of things. I actually used this technique tonight, and it sure made things easier! 🙂
Amy says
You are so smart, Katie! I love this tip!!
Becky P says
Well, I’ve thought to do that with stuffed eggs, don’t know why I didn’t think of it with shells! LOL! Thanks!
Beth says
What a great tip! That photo made me hungry. Do you have a suggestion for making the filling?
Mrs. Oh says
I use the baggie technique to fill my deviled eggs too!
Kelli @ The Corner Kitchen says
What a great idea!!! Stuffed shells just got sooo much easier! Thanks.
Pam @ Kitchen Cookware says
Thank you for sharing easy way to stuff pasta shell. I am so curious as to what is the filling made out of, as it looks so great and colorful.
Katie says
Hi Pam – the filling is leftovers from the Manicotti Primavera that I linked to in this post.
make my day says
Oh my… the light bulb just went on for me! i felt incredibly frustrated when i made canneloni not long ago… I said i’ll never do it again because it took FOREVER to fill them! THE answer is right here. How did i not know this. thanks so much for an enlightening moment! cheers kari
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
That’s how I do it! Even easier if you use an actual pastry bag that is cone shaped.
Katie says
I prefer the pastry bag too. 🙂
Carrie says
How do you fill pasta tubes with this method, such as manicotti? I have always had trouble evenly dispersing the filling through the entire length of the tube without breaking the pasta.
Katie says
This might not be very helpful, but I’ve never done anything special. I just squeeze it in through one end till it gets to the other side.
Margie says
To fill the manicotti, you can also use the Ziploc bag but fill the tube half way from one end and then turn and fill from the other end:)
meaghan says
brilliant! I’ll post a link on my edible crafts column to your idea (ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com)… if that’s OK!
claire says
I love this- Have you ever used the ziplock trick for icing cupcakes?
Katie says
Yes, I’ve done that too. I do like a pastry bag better, but when I’ve been out of them I’ve used a ziplock instead.
Amanda says
Thanks for this! I love stuffed shells, but I always dread the stuffing part! 🙂
Deborah says
I totally do this – a major time saver and mess saver!!
the blissful baker says
this is such a neat idea! it makes stuffing pasta look so clean and easy. i can’t believe i never thought of this before. thanks!
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef says
what a great idea! i always struggle w/ this and so i restrain myself from making all these tasty shells/manacotti recipes. or i make my husband fill them because he has more patience than i do. thanks for the tip!