Kitchen Tip: Stuffed Pasta – The Easy Way!
Have you ever wondered how to stuff pasta shells? I have a super quick tip that makes the task easier than ever! Read on to learn the easiest way to stuff pasta!
Do you have trouble with stuffed shells or filling manicotti?
Some of you might already use this method for stuffing pasta, but I thought I’d share it anyway. It makes my life so much easier.
I really enjoy recipes like Sundried Tomato and Cheese Stuffed Shells and Manicotti Primavera.
But, what a pain to make and fill, right? WRONG! Not when you use this tip for stuffing pasta!
Save this Kitchen Tip How to Stuff Pasta the EASY Way to Pinterest!
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 cooking stuffed shells seem like a lot less work, doesn’t it? Or, dare I say – Easy!?
How to Stuff Pasta – The Easy Way
more GoodLife Eats Kitchen Tips
Save this Kitchen Tip How to Stuff Pasta the EASY Way to Pinterest!
Tools Needed to Stuff Pasta
- Pasta
- Disposable pastry bag or quart size ziplock
- Tall cup
- Scissors
- Filling
Instructions for Filling Pasta
Fill a disposable pastry bag or ziplock bag (quart size works great) with the filling you’ve made for your pasta.
The easiest way to do this is to place the bag in a tall cup, then fold the edges over the outside of the cup.
Spoon the filling into the cup – don’t fill it up too high because you’ll need to hold on to the end of the bag.
Remove the bag from the cup and twist or fold over the end so the filling doesn’t escape.
Snip the corner to make a small hole.
You’ll want to make sure it’s big enough for the filling to come out but not so big that it oozes everywhere.
Try cutting off about 1/2 inch from the tip of the bag’s corner.
Hold your shell in one hand and the bag in the other.
Hold the bag almost exactly how you’d hold a pastry bag if you were frosting something.
Squeeze with gentle pressure because you don’t want to pop the bag.
Squeeze the filling into the shell.
Set aside and repeat with the rest.
Love this Kitchen Tip How to Stuff Pasta the EASY Way?
Sign up for Good Life Eats email updates and never miss another recipe!
How to Stuff Pasta – The Easy Way!
Have you ever wondered how to stuff pasta shells? I have a super quick tip that makes the task easier than ever!
Materials
- Pasta, such as manicotti or jumbo shells
- Pasta Filling
- Disposable pastry bag or quart size ziplock
- Tall cup
Tools
- Scissors
Instructions
- Fill a disposable pastry bagor ziplock bag (quart size works great) with the filling you've made for your pasta.
- The easiest way to do this is to place the bag in a tall cup, then fold the edges over the outside of the cup.
- Spoon the filling into the cup - don't fill it up too high because you'll need to hold on to the end of the bag.
- Remove the bag from the cup and twist or fold over the end so the filling doesn't escape.
- Snip the corner to make a small hole.
- You'll want to make sure it's big enough for the filling to come out but not so big that it oozes everywhere.
- Try cutting off about 1/2 inch from the tip of the bag's corner.
- Hold your shell in one hand and the bag in the other.
- Hold the bag almost exactly how you'd hold a pastry bag if you were frosting something.
- Squeeze with gentle pressure because you don't want to pop the bag.
- Squeeze the filling into the shell.
- Set aside and repeat with the rest.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Be sure to follow Good Life Eats on Instagram. Tag @goodlifeeats and include the hashtag #goodlifeeatsrecipes so I can see what you’re cooking up in YOUR kitchen!
Let me know if you try this tip and what you think of it by leaving a comment below.
Save this Kitchen Tip How to Stuff Pasta the EASY Way to Pinterest!
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!