Ah, stuffed pasta shells—classic comfort food that’s cheesy, hearty, and perfect for family dinners 🐚🧀🍝. Here’s a detailed recipe for classic cheese-stuffed shells with marinara sauce:
🐚 Classic Cheese Stuffed Shells
Ingredients (6–8 servings)
For the Pasta
- 20–25 jumbo pasta shells
- Salt (for boiling water)
For the Cheese Filling
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped (optional)
- Salt & pepper to taste
For the Sauce
- 3 cups marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 tsp garlic powder or 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp olive oil
For Topping
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan
Instructions
- Preheat oven
- Preheat to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook pasta shells
- Boil shells in salted water until al dente, drain, and set aside.
- Prepare filling
- In a bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, Italian seasoning, spinach (if using), salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Prepare baking dish
- Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Stuff shells
- Fill each cooked shell with 2–3 tablespoons of cheese mixture.
- Arrange shells open-side up in the dish.
- Add remaining sauce
- Pour remaining marinara over shells to coat evenly.
- Add cheese topping
- Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the top.
- Bake
- Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until bubbly and lightly golden.
- Serve
- Let cool 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
Tips for Perfect Stuffed Shells
- Don’t overfill: Too much filling can cause shells to break during baking.
- Sauce under & over: Keeps shells moist and prevents drying.
- Optional add-ins: Sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, or cooked sausage can be added to the filling for variety.
- Make ahead: Assemble in the dish, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
If you want, I can give a “meat-lover’s stuffed shells” version with ground beef and Italian sausage in the filling for an extra hearty, family-style meal.
Do you want me to do that?
