Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°.

Step 2

Cook sausage, crumbling as it cooks until well browned. Drain excess grease and set aside.

Step 3

Meanwhile, In another pan, cook diced onion in olive oil over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce, 2 teaspoons of granulated garlic, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cook 10 minutes, stirring often.

Step 4

Stir in cream and remove from heat.

Step 5

Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook manicotti in batches, cooking about 6 minutes. Remove from water with tongs and set aside on a sheet pan in a single layer. Pasta will finish cooking in the oven.

Step 6

Spoon about 1 1/2 cups of sauce into the bottom of a 10 x 15 baking dish.

Step 7

Mix filling together by combining cooked sausage, ricotta cheese, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella, 1 cup of shredded Parmesan, eggs, 2 teaspoons of granulated garlic, thyme, basil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.

Step 8

Use a spoon to stuff shells with filling, laying stuffed shells into baking dish over sauce.

Step 9

Pour remaining sauce over stuffed shells.

Step 10

Top with remaining 2 cups of shredded mozzarella.

Step 11

Bake, uncovered for 40 - 45 minutes.

Step 12

Remove from oven and allow to rest 10 minutes before serving.