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Classic Stuffed Shells

A close-up of cheesy spinach stuffed shells baked in marinara sauce, garnished with parsley.
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Enjoy a crowd-pleasing Italian-American comfort dish with these classic stuffed shells. Large pasta shells are filled with a creamy ricotta and spinach mixture, then baked in marinara sauce under a blanket of melted mozzarella.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box (12 ounces) jumbo pasta shells
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook pasta shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to prevent sticking.
  2. While shells cook, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef or sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
  3. Add chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  4. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, beaten egg, Parmesan cheese, thawed spinach, and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
  6. Spread about 1 cup of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  7. Stuff each cooked pasta shell with the ricotta mixture. Arrange the stuffed shells in a single layer in the baking dish over the sauce.
  8. Pour the remaining meat sauce over the stuffed shells.
  9. Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
  10. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the sauce is heated through.
  11. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • For a vegetarian option, omit the meat and increase the amount of marinara sauce.
  • You can prepare this dish ahead of time and refrigerate it before baking. Add a few extra minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.
  • Freeze any leftovers for a convenient future meal. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven or microwave.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kingscook.com/stuffed-shells-recipe/