Description
Delight in these cheesy stuffed shells filled with a creamy spinach and ricotta mixture, topped with marinara and mozzarella. This comforting dish is perfect for family dinners and is sure to impress!
Ingredients
Scale
- 18–20 jumbo pasta shells (boil extra in case some break)
- 1–2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups spinach
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 2 tbsp cream cheese
- 1 large egg
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Seasonings:
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp dried oregano
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook Pasta Shells: Boil shells in salted water for 1 minute less than al dente, approximately 13 minutes (refer to package instructions). Drain and gently rinse with cold water to prevent sticking, then set aside.
- Sauté Spinach and Garlic: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add spinach and toss to coat, cooking for about 3 minutes or until wilted. Set aside to cool.
- Prepare Cheese Filling: In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese with salt, pepper, basil, parsley, and oregano. Add half of the mozzarella cheese, most of the Parmesan (reserving some for topping), cream cheese, and egg. Stir until smooth, then fold in the cooled spinach and garlic mixture.
- Assemble Stuffed Shells: Spread half of the marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish (or a 12-inch oven-safe skillet). Fill each pasta shell with the cheese mixture and arrange them in the dish. Top with remaining marinara sauce, then sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and reserved Parmesan.
- Bake: Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm, ideally with garlic bread.
Notes
- Boil a few extra shells in case some break during cooking.
- For a richer filling, consider adding cooked Italian sausage.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 60mg