Description
Stuffed Shells Pasta is the ultimate comfort food—jumbo pasta shells filled with a creamy, cheesy mixture and baked in a rich marinara sauce until bubbly and golden. This family-style dish is perfect for make-ahead meals, potlucks, or cozy weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
12 ounces jumbo pasta shells
15 ounces ricotta cheese
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
¾ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 large egg
1 ½ cups chopped fresh spinach (optional)
2 cups marinara sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Extra mozzarella and parmesan for topping
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cook jumbo pasta shells in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, egg, spinach (if using), garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until well combined.
4. Fill each shell with the cheese mixture using a spoon or piping bag.
5. Spread half of the marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
6. Arrange the stuffed shells open-side up in the dish.
7. Pour the remaining sauce over the shells and sprinkle extra mozzarella and parmesan on top.
8. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
9. Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes until bubbly and lightly golden.
10. Serve hot and garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
Do not overcook the pasta shells—they will continue to cook in the oven.
A piping bag makes stuffing the shells quicker and cleaner.
For a heartier version, add browned ground beef or sausage to the filling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (about 2–3 shells)
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: Stuffed Shells Pasta, Baked Pasta, Comfort Food