By Lynne on March 25, 2026 » Go away a overview

These Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells make a superb meal that can fulfill your complete household! Jumbo shells are filled with a creamy ricotta and spinach filling and baked in a easy selfmade marinara sauce. Pair them with a inexperienced salad and a few garlic bread for a hearty weeknight dinner!

I really like making stuffed pasta shells for my household! They’re so scrumptious, and you need to use all kinds of fillings to make them distinctive. Stuffed shells are nice for meal prep, and I like to make this hearty baked pasta dish for a meal prepare when households want a little bit assist with a meal!

This spinach ricotta stuffed shells recipe really form of jogs my memory of Spinach Dip, solely in shell type and with out the artichokes! I imply, you’ll be able to’t actually go improper with three sorts of cheese, proper?

Elements for Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

You solely want a handful of substances to make the filling for these stuffed shells. Right here’s what I exploit:

• Jumbo pasta shells
• Ricotta cheese
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Frozen spinach, thawed and drained
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Egg
• Dried parsley

Selfmade Marinara Sauce Elements

I exploit my scrumptious selfmade marinara sauce on this and different pasta recipes. A lot of the substances are pantry staples. Collect these substances collectively:

• Olive oil
• Minced onion
• Garlic cloves, minced
• Tomato puree
• Tomato paste
• Freshly chopped basil
• Granulated white sugar
• Kosher salt
• Dried oregano
• Freshly floor black pepper
• Pink pepper flakes
• Apple cider vinegar (or you’ll be able to substitute lemon juice)

To get all the small print for this recipe, take a look at the printable recipe card on the finish of the publish!

How you can Make Spinach Stuffed Shells

If I don’t have already got some marinara sauce available, I’ll begin by making that first.

1. In a big skillet or saucepan, I warmth a little bit olive oil over medium warmth. Then I add the minced onion and garlic and prepare dinner till aromatic, about 1-2  minutes.
2. Subsequent, I add the tomato puree and tomato paste, sugar, basil, salt, oregano, pepper, and pink pepper flakes. I scale back the warmth to a simmer over low and prepare dinner for about half-hour, stirring sometimes.

Cook dinner and Stuff the Shells

1. I prepare dinner my jumbo shells in a big pot of water in line with the bundle instructions for al dente, then drain and put aside.
2. Whereas the pasta cooks, I preheat the oven to 350 levels F. I put together a 9×13-inch baking pan by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray.
3. In a big bowl, I beat an egg, then add ricotta cheese, drained spinach, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, the Parmesan cheese, and parsley. I combine this all collectively effectively.
4. Then I add all the pasta sauce to the ready baking dish, spreading it evenly across the backside of the pan. I fill every of the cooked shells with the cheese combination and place them into the baking dish on prime of the sauce.
5. Lastly, I cowl your entire dish with aluminum foil and bake for half-hour.
   If you happen to like, it can save you a portion of the sauce to pour excessive of the shells earlier than baking. Typically, I wish to take away the foil after half-hour, add extra mozzarella cheese, then bake it uncovered for an additional 5-10 minutes or till the cheese melts.

FAQs

Can I make Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells forward of time?

Sure, you’ll be able to completely make stuffed shells forward of time. I wish to double the recipe and make one dish for now and one other for later! Assemble the stuffed pasta as directed, cowl the dish tightly with foil, and refrigerate for as much as 1–3 days earlier than baking.

They can be frozen unbaked for as much as 3 months, permitting for a fast, straightforward meal that bakes straight from the freezer. Simply stick it within the preheated oven and bake for an additional 10-Quarter-hour or till the filling is heat all through.

How do I retailer leftover Spinach Ricotta Stuffed Shells?

Retailer them in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat them within the microwave, coated, or in an oven till heat all through.

Can I exploit contemporary spinach on this recipe?

You possibly can, nevertheless it must be cooked down and drained. You’d want a few pound of contemporary spinach to get sufficient for this recipe.

What’s the easiest way to stuff the shells?

I wish to switch my filling to a piping bag or Ziploc bag, snip off the nook of the bag, and pipe the filling into every particular person shell. It’s lots much less messy! However you can even simply use a big spoon to switch the filling!

Extra Stuffed Shell Recipes

Listed below are a number of the stuffed shell recipes I’ve created. What different filling ought to I make subsequent time?

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Created by: Lynne Feifer

Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Course Dinner

Delicacies Italian

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook dinner Time 1 hour hour

Complete Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells are pasta shells stuffed with a creamy ricotta and spinach filling, baked in a selfmade marinara sauce. They pair completely with salad and slices of garlic bread.

Cook dinner ModeStop your display from going darkish

Directions

Marinara

• In a big skillet or giant saucepan over medium warmth, warmth the 4 tablespoons olive oil. Add the minced onion, 2 cloves minced garlic and prepare dinner till aromatic and barely tender, about 2 minutes.

• Add the 28 ounces tomato puree, 6 ounces tomato paste, 1 teaspoon sugar, 2 tablespoons contemporary basil, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon pink pepper flakes.

• Scale back to simmer and prepare dinner for half-hour, stirring sometimes. Add the 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar after half-hour and stir effectively to include. Ladle or fastidiously pour contents into the ready baking dish. I wish to pour all the sauce into the underside of the pan after which place the shells in, however you’ll be able to place some sauce on prime if you would like.

Shells

• When able to make shells, preheat oven to 350 levels F.

• Cook dinner pasta shells in line with bundle instructions.

Spinach Ricotta Filling

• In a big mixing bowl, beat the egg. Add the ricotta cheese, 8 ounces squeezed spinach, 1 cup of the mozzarella, Parmesan cheese and parsley. Combine effectively.

• Place 1/3 of the marinara sauce into the underside of the ready baking dish.

• Fill every shell with the ricotta filling and place into the baking dish.

• Cowl the pan with tin foil, and bake for half-hour.

Notes

• Don’t have apple cider vinegar, you’ll be able to substitute 1 tablespoon contemporary lemon juice. 
• If you happen to select to cowl the the shells with a little bit of sauce earlier than baking and wish to add extra mozzarella on prime, remove the tin foil after half-hour. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella over the shells, and return to oven to bake uncovered for an additional 5 – 10 minutes or till cheese is melted.

Diet

Energy: 389kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 21g | Fats: 23g | Saturated Fats: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 11g | Trans Fats: 0.003g | Ldl cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 1432mg | Potassium: 1181mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 6147IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 466mg | Iron: 5mg

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