Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Baked Ricotta Stuffed Shells plump full of creamy ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan Cheese, spinach and garlic all topped with marinara and another generous helping of mozzarella.

Coursepasta

CuisineItalian

KeywordItalian stuffed shells, pasta, shells, stuffed pasta shells, stuffed shells, stuffed shells with ricotta

Prep Time20minutes minutes

Cook Time40minutes minutes

Servings6 servings

Calories494kcal

AuthorBeth Pierce

Ingredients

• 20 jumbo shells ½ of a 12 ounce box
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 5 ounces baby spinach stems removed and chopped
• 15 ounces whole milk ricotta
• 3 cups mozzarella reserve 1 cup for the top
• ½ cup shredded Parmesan
• 1 large egg
• 1 ½ teaspoons Italian Seasoning
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 3 cups marinara
• 2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or fresh basil

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Boil the pasta shells al dente according to package instructions; drain well.
• Add the olive oil to a skillet over medium low heat. Add the garlic and spinach cooking 2-3 minutes or just until the spinach is wilted. Remove from the heat and let it cool.
• In a large bowl combine the ricotta, 2 cups mozzarella, Parmesan Cheese, egg, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper and the cooled spinach mixture.
• Spread the bottom of a 9×13 or equivalent sized casserole dish  1 1/2 cups marinara.  Spoon the cheese mixture into the shells Place the stuffed shells in the casserole. Spoon the remaining marinara in and around the shells.
• Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Then uncover and bake for another 20 minutes. If desired sprinkle with parsley or basil. 

Notes

• Do not over-boil the pasta shells. Cook them slightly al dente and add a few extra shells when boiling the pasta, as inevitably, several of them will tear.
• You can use fresh or frozen spinach. If using frozen spinach, squeeze as much of the moisture out as possible. This step is important to keep the sauce from being watered down.
• Use good quality marinara or make your own from homemade marinara sauce.
• For a heartier meal, add browned ground beef or Italian Sausage. 
• For a change of pace try substituting alfredo sauce for the marinara sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 494kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 1351mg | Potassium: 714mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 3666IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 593mg | Iron: 3mg