Easy to make as a weeknight dinner, this traditional stuffed shells recipe is quick and tasty. If you love Italian flavors, this recipe has the best of Italian seasonings, herbs and pasta. And plenty of yummy cheeses too! Make it with Homemade Pasta Sauce for extra freshness and pair it with Cheesy Pull-Apart Bread or Simple Homemade Caesar Salad for the ultimate Italian-inspired family meal.
Try our creamy beef and shells for a delicious meat version of this dish. If youre looking for other easy dinner ideas, check out our baked ziti and easy lasagna casserole.
MORE BAKED PASTA RECIPES:
Baked Mac & Cheese |Chicken Alfredo Bake |Baked Spaghetti
Stuffed Shells Ingredients
You will need:
- 24 jumbo shells
- 28 oz marinara sauce, divided (or make homemade pasta sauce)
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- teaspoon salt
- teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup finely shredded mozzarella cheese
- Chopped parsley for garnish, optional
MEAT: This recipe is vegetarian theres no meat in the filling but you can easily add ground beef or sausage. Cook the meat fully before adding it to your filling.
SPINACH: For a tasty twist on this recipe, add Spinach to your stuffing and turn this recipe into stuffed shells Florentine. Use a 10 oz package of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained. This is a great way to hide some extra veggies in your dinner!
How to Make Stuffed Shells
STEP ONE: Cook pasta shells according to package directions except reduce the time by 3 minutes to just under al dente (about 8 minutes). Drain and rinse immediately in cold water. Set aside.
STEP TWO: Spray the bottom of a 913 pan with nonstick spray. Place 1 cup of the marinara sauce in the bottom of the pan.
STEP THREE: In a medium bowl stir together the ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
STEP FOUR: Put this mixture in a Ziploc bag and snip off the end or use a pastry bag. Pipe this filling into the pasta shells.
STEP FIVE: Place the shells in your prepared 913 pan.Top with the remaining marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbling around the edge of the pan and cheese is melted.
Freezing Stuffed Shells
One of the best parts of this recipe is that its simple to freeze. Keep these on hand for a day when you know youll want to skip cooking dinner. Heres how:
- Prepare the shells according to the instructions. Place them in the pan but do not cook them.
- Wrap your pan in plastic wrap, removing as much air as possible between the shells and plastic.
- Cover the pan tightly in foil.
- Freeze for up to 2 months.
- When youre ready to eat the shells, bake them at 350, uncovered, for 45 minutes, or until the top is bubbly and slightly brown.
More Recipes Youll Love
PASTA: Ground Beef Stroganoff | Instant Pot Lasagna
BAKED: Baked Ziti with Chicken | Lasagna
MAC & CHEESE: Chili Mac| Crockpot Mac & Cheese
For a weeknight dinner, potluck dish or freezer meal, this stuffed shell recipe is easy to make and full of satisfying flavor. Its a classic recipe with the perfect combination of three cheeses, Italian herbs, and plenty of marinara sauce.
Stuffed Shells
This classic Italian recipe for stuffed shells offers big, authentic flavor in one simple, homemade meal. Easy to make and full of delicious cheese, this family favorite will have everyone requesting seconds!
- 24 jumbo shells
- 28 oz marinara sauce (divided)
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- cup parmesan cheese (finely grated)
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- teaspoon salt
- teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup finely shredded mozzarella cheese
- Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
- Cook pasta shells according to package directions except reduce the time by 3 minutes to just under al dente (about 8 minutes). Drain and rinse immediately in cold water. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Spray the bottom of a 913 pan with nonstick spray.
- Place 1 cup of the marinara sauce in the bottom of the pan.
- In a medium bowl stir together the ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Place this mixture in a Ziploc bag and snip off the end or use a pastry bag.
- Pipe the filling into the ricotta shells and place the shells in your prepared 913 pan.
- Top with the remaining marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbling around the edge of the pan and cheese is melted.
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