Hearty Stuffed Shells made with a trio of flavorful cheeses, tender spinach, fresh herbs, as well as homemade or store-bought marinara. Pure comfort food that’sec sure to satisfy as well as a dinner everyone tin concur on!
What Are Stuffed Shells?
Who could resist these jumbo pasta shells brimming with cheese too spinach together with baked until perfectly melted together with delicious? Aren’t extra cheesy foods only the best foods?
Stuffed shells come in so many unlike fillings (taco, pizza, chicken, etc.) just I dear this Italian classic best. They’re are a lot like lasagna alongside without the beef (though yous tin definitely add roughly beef to the sauce if y'all’d like), as well as they’re likewise a lot similar Manicotti.
Photography Credit: Jenn Davis at Two Cups Flour.
They’re easier to make than you’d think together with they make corking left overs if yous are lucky plenty to have any left the side by side day.
Plus they are picky eater approved recipe, even kids volition dearest these!
Can I Freeze Them?
These are a dandy make ahead dinner, for those busy days when you merely don’t have time to ready. They’ll freeze good for several months. Let thaw overnight in the fridge and so let rest at room temperature patch oven preheats together with bake.
What Ingredients get into Cheesy Stuffed Shells?
- Jumbo pasta shells – cook to al dente then they don’t end up soggy.
- Fresh spinach – adds some nutrition too a pop of colour.
- Egg – helps bind the cheeses
- Fresh basil, oregano or thyme – I love fresh herbs hither just dried tin live used too (function 1/3 the sum).
- Garlic – a classic Italian constituent.
- Ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan cheese – the delicious blend of the three volition remind yous of lasagna.
- Salt and pepper – always a fundamental element, and then the dish isn’t apartment. You won’t necessitate much since in that location’second salt inwards the cheeses together with sauce.
- Red pepper flakes – optional, if y'all like a trivial rut.
- Marinara sauce – homemade or shop-bought will go dandy here.
Can I Use Frozen Spinach?
Frozen Spinach volition run swell here as well. Thaw it out beginning together with drain and then dab dry out amongst paper towels together with go on every bit directed.
How make You Make Stuffed Shells?
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a mixing bowl, using a fork, blend together Ricotta cheese and egg. Stir in herbs and garlic.
- Add 2 cups mozzarella too parmesan cheese in addition to stir so mix inwards prepared spinach.
- Season mixture amongst table salt too pepper to taste.
- Spread 1/three loving cup pasta sauce into an even layer along bottom of a 13 by 9-inch baking dish.
- Divide cheese mixture amidst cooked pasta shells, stuffing each beat out total amongst about two Tbsp cheese mixture.
- Align shells in baking dish adjacent, amongst the opening of shells facing upright. Stir crimson pepper flakes to sense of taste into marinara sauce if desired.
- Cover shells evenly alongside remaining marinara sauce and then sprinkle tops evenly alongside remaining ane loving cup mozzarella cheese.
How Are They Cooked?
- Bake prepared stuffed shells in a preheated 375 level oven covered alongside aluminum foil for 30 minutes.
What Should I Serve with Stuffed Shells?
Since these shells are rattling hearty I recommend serving them amongst steamed or roasted vegetables or a side salad.
More Delicious Italian Recipes You’ll Love!
- Chicken Parmesan
- Italian Wedding Soup
- Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
- Creamy Chicken Piccata
- Pasta e Fagioli Soup
Spinach as well as Cheese Stuffed Shells
Ingredients
- xxx jumbo pasta shells, cooked according to directions listed on package
- 15 oz fresh spinach, steamed but until wilted, squeezed dry out amongst newspaper towels in addition to chopped*
- fifteen oz ricotta cheese
- one big egg
- iii Tbsp chopped fresh basil
- ane tsp chopped fresh oregano or thyme
- ane clove garlic, finely minced
- three cups (12 oz) mozzarella cheese, finely shredded, divided
- ane cup (three.v oz) parmesan cheese, finely shredded
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- three cups marinara sauce, homemade or shop-bought
- reddish pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a mixing bowl, using a fork, blend together Ricotta cheese as well as egg. Stir inwards basil, thyme in addition to garlic.
- Add ii cups mozzarella and Parmesan cheese too toss mixture to combine. Mix in prepared spinach. Season mixture alongside common salt as well as pepper to gustation.
- Spread ane/iii loving cup marinara sauce into an fifty-fifty layer along bottom of a thirteen by 9-inch baking dish (or like size casserole dish). Divide cheese mixture amidst cooked pasta shells, stuffing each crush total amongst well-nigh ii Tbsp cheese mixture.
- Align shells inward baking dish side by side, amongst the opening of shells facing upright.
- Stir scarlet pepper flakes to gustation into marinara sauce if desired. Cover shells evenly with remaining marinara sauce then sprinkle tops evenly with remaining i cup mozzarella cheese.
- Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and bake inwards preheated oven xxx minutes. Serve warm.
Notes
- *If you lot don't want to steam fresh spinach, you lot could besides use frozen in addition to thawed spinach, merely dry it well by squeezing dry out amongst several layers of paper towels.
- Recipe beginning: Cooking Classy
Amount Per Serving
Calories 338
Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*