Culture & Lifestyle • Food

Cannelloni

Cannelloni are large, tube-shaped pasta typically filled with ingredients such as meat, cheese, fish, or vegetables and baked with sauce.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Cannelloni are large, tube-shaped pasta typically filled with ingredients such as meat, cheese, fish, or vegetables and baked with sauce. They are a traditional dish in Italian cuisine and are also associated with Catalan cuisine, where they are known as canelons and are commonly eaten on Saint Stephen's Day. The name cannelloni is commonly explained as meaning “large reeds.”

Definition and form

Cannelloni refers to large pasta tubes or rolled pasta sheets used for stuffing. The dish is usually assembled with filling, covered in sauce, and baked.

Ingredients and preparation

Common fillings include ricotta and spinach, minced meat, cheese, fish, or vegetables. Tomato sauce and béchamel are among the most frequently mentioned sauces.

Culinary origins and regional use

Cannelloni are identified as an Italian dish and are often linked to Emilia in Italian culinary sources. They are also a standard dish in Catalonia, where they are called canelons.

Cannelloni are sometimes compared with manicotti, another stuffed pasta dish, though terminology varies by region and source.

Key facts

Cannelloni are cylindrical pasta tubes or rolled pasta filled with a savoury mixture and baked in sauce.
Traditional fillings often include spinach and ricotta or minced beef.
Cannelloni are widely associated with Italian cuisine and are also a typical dish in Catalan cuisine, where they are called canelons.
Catalan canelons are traditionally eaten on Saint Stephen's Day.
The name cannelloni is commonly explained as meaning “large reeds.”

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Canadian context

Cannelloni is commonly available in Canadian Italian restaurants and grocery stores, and it is a familiar dish in Canadian home cooking influenced by Italian cuisine.

Frequently asked questions

What are cannelloni?

Cannelloni are large pasta tubes or rolled pasta filled with savoury ingredients and baked in sauce.

What fillings are commonly used?

Common fillings include ricotta and spinach, minced meat, cheese, fish, and vegetables.

What sauce is usually used with cannelloni?

Tomato sauce and béchamel sauce are the most commonly mentioned sauces.

Are cannelloni Italian?

Yes. They are generally described as part of Italian cuisine, although they are also a traditional dish in Catalonia.

What does the name mean?

The name is commonly explained as meaning “large reeds.”

References

Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cannelloni
Supports: Definition as baked tube-shaped or rolled pasta filled with meat, fish, cheese, or vegetables.
Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/browse/cannelloni
Supports: Definition as tubular or rolled pasta filled with meat or poultry and often cheese, baked in cream or tomato sauce.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannelloni
Supports: Italian origin, meaning of the name, typical fillings, and Catalan association with canelons and Saint Stephen's Day.
La Cucina Italiana — https://www.lacucinaitaliana.com/glossary/cannelloni
Supports: Traditional Italian usage, Emilia association, typical fillings, and use of tomato sauce and béchamel.
Britannica Dictionary — https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/cannelloni
Supports: Definition as pasta tubes filled with meat, fish, cheese, or vegetables and baked in sauce.