Manicotti vs Stuffed Shells: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Stuffed shells, with 9.9 g of protein, is higher in protein than Manicotti, which has 7.6 g. Manicotti is lower in calories at 153, compared to Stuffed shells at 205.

Manicotti and Stuffed shells are both filled pasta dishes often enjoyed in Italian cuisine. This comparison highlights their nutritional profiles to help you make informed dietary choices.

What Is the Difference Between Manicotti and Stuffed Shells?

Manicotti are large pasta tubes typically filled with a mixture of cheese, meat, or vegetables, then baked with sauce. They are known for their soft texture and rich flavor. Stuffed shells are pasta shells filled with a variety of ingredients, often ricotta cheese, and covered with sauce before baking. They are a popular comfort food choice.

Manicotti vs Stuffed Shells: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the nutritional values of Manicotti and Stuffed shells.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Cheese manicotti	Cheese stuffed shells
Calories	153 kcal	205 kcal
Protein	7.6 g	9.9 g
Carbs	16.2 g	22.2 g
Sugar	1.6 g	0.5 g
Fat	6.6 g	8.5 g
Fiber	0.9 g	0.7 g
Sodium	436 mg	428 mg

Which Is Better, Manicotti or Stuffed Shells?

For weight loss: Manicotti has fewer calories at 153, while Stuffed shells contain 205 calories per 100 g.

For muscle and protein: Stuffed shells provide more protein at 9.9 g, compared to Manicotti's 7.6 g per 100 g.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Manicotti has 16.2 g of carbs and 1.6 g of sugar, while Stuffed shells contain 22.2 g of carbs and 0.5 g of sugar.

How to Track Manicotti and Stuffed shells Accurately

Portion sizes and macro content can be easy to misjudge, especially with pasta dishes. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values intended for educational use and are not medical advice. Always consider individual dietary needs and consult a professional if necessary. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Stuffed shells have 9.9 g of protein, while Manicotti has 7.6 g of protein per 100 g.

Which has fewer calories?

Manicotti contains 153 calories, whereas Stuffed shells have 205 calories per 100 g.

What are the carbohydrate contents?

Manicotti has 16.2 g of carbs, while Stuffed shells contain 22.2 g of carbs per 100 g.

How much fat is in each dish?

Manicotti has 6.6 g of fat, and Stuffed shells have 8.5 g of fat per 100 g.

What is the sugar content?

Manicotti contains 1.6 g of sugar, while Stuffed shells have 0.5 g of sugar per 100 g.

What is the fiber content?

Manicotti has 0.9 g of fiber, and Stuffed shells contain 0.7 g of fiber per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Manicotti: 153 calories per 100 g.
• Stuffed shells: 205 calories per 100 g.
• Manicotti: 7.6 g of protein.
• Stuffed shells: 9.9 g of protein.
• Manicotti: 16.2 g of carbs.
• Stuffed shells: 22.2 g of carbs.