Monday, February 9, 2026
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Garlic Rooster & Spinach Stuffed Shells


These garlic rooster stuffed shells are a type of reliable, satisfying dinners you’ll come again to many times. They’re creamy, tacky, loaded with taste, and surprisingly easy to arrange. Stuffed with garlicky ricotta, rooster, and spinach, then baked in marinara sauce, that is a straightforward crowd-pleaser that works simply as effectively for busy weeknights because it does for informal entertaining.

creamy chicken stuffed shells with marinara and garlic spinach.

If there’s one factor I like simply as a lot as baking, it’s a comforting, reliable dinner that feels a little bit particular however doesn’t require a ton of fuss. These garlic rooster stuffed shells examine each field. They’re hearty, flavorful, family-friendly, and excellent for all the things from a quiet weeknight to an informal dinner with buddies.

Every jumbo pasta shell is full of a creamy ricotta combination loaded with garlic, tender rooster, and contemporary spinach, then nestled into marinara sauce and baked. The flavors are traditional and acquainted, however the garlic and Italian seasoning give all the things a little bit additional oomph. Assume cozy Italian-American consolation meals—the type that makes your kitchen scent unimaginable and ensures empty plates!


Why You’ll Love These Stuffed Shells

  • Make-ahead pleasant: Assemble earlier within the day and bake when prepared.
  • Nice use for leftover rooster: Rotisserie rooster works superbly right here.
  • Balanced and satisfying: Creamy filling, savory sauce, and simply sufficient cheese.
creamy chicken stuffed shells with marinara and garlic spinach.

Seize These Elements

  • Jumbo Pasta Shells: You’ll want about 32 jumbo shells. I initially cooked a full 12-ounce field, however that was too many shells and we had 19 leftover as soon as all the things was crammed. If you wish to keep away from extras, prepare dinner nearer to 7–8 ounces, or rely out 32 shells earlier than boiling, and save the remainder of the field for an additional time.
  • Olive Oil: For sautéing the garlic and spinach.
  • Garlic: 4 cloves might sound daring, however it mellows superbly because it cooks and provides so a lot taste.
  • Spinach: Recent spinach wilts rapidly and blends proper into the filling.
  • Cheeses: Ricotta retains the filling creamy, parmesan provides savoriness, and mozzarella provides you that impossible to resist stretch on prime.
  • Egg: Helps bind the filling so it units up because the shells bake—nonetheless creamy, however not free or watery.
  • Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. In the event you don’t have Italian seasoning, you need to use any mixture of Italian herbs that you just like corresponding to dried basil, oregano, and so forth.
  • Cooked Rooster: Rotisserie rooster works effectively right here, however you may actually use any cooked rooster, so long as it’s chopped (or shredded) into small items.
  • Marinara Sauce: Use a good-quality, flavorful sauce you’re keen on. I often use Rao’s traditional marinara (not working with the model, simply genuinely just like the sauce!).
ingredients in bowls.

Overview: How one can Make Garlic Rooster Stuffed Shells

Cook dinner the jumbo shells till simply al dente, then set them apart.

Sauté the garlic in olive oil, add the spinach, and prepare dinner till wilted. Stir this into the ricotta together with the seasonings, egg, parmesan, and a part of the mozzarella. Fold within the chopped rooster:

garlicky spinach and cheese mixture.

Spoon the filling into every shell, prepare them over a layer of marinara sauce, prime with the remaining sauce and mozzarella, and bake till bubbly and frivolously golden.

hands stuffing shells with cheesy spinach filling.

End with contemporary basil and further parmesan for serving—easy and scrumptious!

stuffed shells with marinara, chicken, and spinach.
stuffed shells on plate with salad.

Serving & Storing

These stuffed shells pair splendidly with garlic bread or breadsticks and a easy inexperienced salad (I like this Italian dressing!). Leftovers preserve effectively within the fridge and reheat superbly, making this an excellent possibility for meal prep or next-day lunches.

In the event you’re craving a comfortable, comparatively easy dinner that delivers massive taste, this garlic rooster stuffed shells recipe deserves a spot in your rotation! All of us actually cherished it.

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Description

Stuffed with garlicky ricotta, rooster, and spinach, then baked in marinara sauce, that is a straightforward crowd-pleaser that works simply as effectively for busy weeknights because it does for informal entertaining.



  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (191°C). Calmly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or related dimension (about 3-quart) casserole dish. Put aside.
  2. Carry a big pot of salted water to a boil and add the jumbo shells. Boil the shells till simply al dente, about 9 minutes. Drain and rinse with chilly water. Lay the shells, open aspect up, on a baking sheet.
  3. Warmth olive oil in a big skillet over medium warmth. Sauté the garlic for 30 seconds, then add the spinach. Cook dinner, stirring, till the spinach wilts and cooks down, about 3 minutes. Take away from warmth.
  4. In a big bowl, combine collectively the ricotta cheese, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, egg, parmesan, and 1 cup (113g) of the mozzarella. Fold within the rooster and garlic-spinach combination. 
  5. Pour about 2 cups (about 450g) of sauce into the ready baking dish to simply cowl the underside.
  6. Spoon the filling evenly into the shells and prepare within the baking dish.
  7. Pour the remaining sauce over the stuffed shells. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
  8. Bake, uncovered, for 20–25 minutes. Serve with contemporary basil and further parmesan, if desired.

Notes

  1. Make-Forward Directions: Assemble the stuffed shells within the baking dish, cowl tightly, and refrigerate for as much as 24 hours. When able to bake, let the dish sit at room temperature whereas the oven preheats, then bake as directed, including a couple of additional minutes if wanted.
  2. Freezing Directions: Assemble all the things however don’t bake but. Cowl tightly and freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge, then bake as directed. You can even bake straight from frozen—simply count on so as to add about 20 minutes to the bake time and preserve the dish coated for many of it.
  3. Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): 9×13-inch Baking Pan (or any related 3-quart baking dish) | Glass Mixing Bowl 
  4. Pasta Shells: You’ll want about 32 jumbo shells, which is round 8 ounces whole. When first testing the recipe, we cooked a full 12-ounce field, however that was too many shells and we had 19 leftover as soon as all the things was crammed. If you wish to keep away from extras, prepare dinner nearer to eight ounces, or rely out 32 shells earlier than boiling, and save the remainder of the field for an additional time.
  5. Can I Use Frozen Spinach? Sure. Thaw fully and squeeze out as a lot moisture as potential earlier than utilizing in step 3.
  6. Italian Seasoning: In the event you don’t have Italian seasoning mix, you need to use any mixture of Italian herbs that you just like, corresponding to dried basil, oregano, and so forth.
  7. Rooster: Rotisserie rooster breast is fast and handy, however any cooked rooster works. Simply ensure that it’s chopped or shredded into small items so it mixes evenly into the filling.
  8. Can I Skip the Rooster? Sure, you may completely skip the rooster. If desired, in step 3, you may sauté chopped mushrooms or crimson peppers within the oil for a couple of minutes earlier than including the garlic and spinach.

Vitamin

  • Serving Dimension: 4 shells
  • Energy: 315
  • Sugar: 2.2 g
  • Sodium: 513.8 mg
  • Fats: 11.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 26.3 g
  • Protein: 25.7 g
  • Ldl cholesterol: 77.6 mg

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