Description
Indulge in the comforting flavors of Italy with this Stuffed Shells recipe, a delightful dish that combines creamy ricotta, fresh spinach, and a blend of cheeses, all enveloped in savory marinara sauce. Perfect for family dinners or festive gatherings, these jumbo pasta shells are filled to perfection and baked until bubbly, ensuring a satisfying meal that will impress everyone at your table. Enjoy this easy-to-make classic as is, or customize it with your favorite ingredients for a personal touch.
Ingredients
- Jumbo Pasta Shells: 18-20
- Olive Oil: 1-2 tablespoons
- Garlic: 3 cloves, minced
- Fresh Spinach: 4 cups
- Ricotta Cheese: 15 oz.
- Parmesan Cheese: ½ cup, grated
- Mozzarella Cheese: 3 cups, shredded
- Cream Cheese: 2 tablespoons
- Egg: 1
- Marinara Sauce: 24 oz.
- Seasoning (salt, pepper, basil, parsley, oregano)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Cook the jumbo pasta shells in salted boiling water for about 12 minutes; drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a skillet over medium heat, warm olive oil and sauté minced garlic for 1 minute. Add fresh spinach and cook until wilted (about 3 minutes). Allow to cool.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with salt, pepper, basil, parsley, oregano, half of the mozzarella cheese, most of the Parmesan cheese (reserve some for topping), cream cheese, and egg. Mix well and fold in the cooled spinach-garlic mixture.
- Spread half of the marinara sauce in a casserole dish. Fill each pasta shell with the cheese mixture and place them in the dish.
- Pour the remaining marinara sauce over stuffed shells and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes; then remove cover and bake for an additional 10 minutes until bubbly.
- Let cool slightly before serving warm with fresh parsley garnish.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed shell (approx. 175g)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: Feel free to add cooked ground beef or chicken to the filling for extra protein. You can substitute part of the ricotta with cottage cheese for a lighter option. For a spicy kick, consider adding red pepper flakes to the filling or sauce.