Stuffed Shells
Recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod
Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with a creamy, cheesy spinach filling, topped with rich marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and baked to perfection. This delicious dinner can be made in advance and it's freezer friendly too!
Servings: 6
Calories: 494kcal
Ingredients
- 20 jumbo pasta shells, cooked according to package directions*
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cups packed spinach, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups marinara sauce, divided
- 2 tablespoons chopped basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degree F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta shells and cook until al dente, according to package instructions. Don’t overcook the shells. Drain, and rinse with run cold water to stop cooking. Set the shells aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped spinach and sauté until wilted. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, spinach mixture, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Spread 1 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.
- Use a spoon to fill the pasta shells with the cheese and spinach mixture. Place in the baking dish.
- Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the shells and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Carefully remove the foil and broil for an additional 2 minutes to lightly brown the cheese.
- Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh basil. Serve warm.
Notes
I always boil 24 pasta shells just in case some break, but you will only need 20 for the recipe.
Nutrition
Calories: 494kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 988mg | Potassium: 692mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 3278IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 560mg | Iron: 3mg