A method for manufacturing a plugged honeycomb structure, includes: a forming raw material preparation step of mixing and kneading a partition wall base material raw material at least including cordierite powder and binder with water to obtain a partition wall base material forming raw material; a forming/drying step of forming the partition wall base material forming raw material to obtain a honeycomb formed body, and drying the honeycomb formed body to obtain a honeycomb dried body; a slurry application step of applying trapping layer forming slurry including a cordierite forming raw material or alumina to a surface of a not-fired partition wall base material of the obtained honeycomb dried body; a firing step of firing the slurry-applied honeycomb dried body; and a plugging step of disposing a plugging portion at open ends of predetermined cells of the slurry-applied honeycomb dried body or of the honeycomb fired body.