Description
Make comforting Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells. This baked pasta dish brings family memories right to your table with a creamy, flavorful filling. You can make something wonderful, even on a busy day.
Ingredients
- Jumbo Pasta Shells: 1 box (about 30 shells)
- Frozen Chopped Spinach: 10 oz, thawed and squeezed dry
- Ricotta Cheese: 15 oz container
- Mozzarella Cheese: 1 cup, shredded, divided
- Parmesan Cheese: 1/2 cup, grated
- Egg: 1 large
- Garlic Powder: 1 teaspoon
- Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
- Black Pepper: 1/4 teaspoon
- Marinara Sauce: 24 oz jar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Cook the jumbo pasta shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain them well and set aside to cool slightly.
- In a medium bowl, combine the squeezed dry spinach, ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until all ingredients are evenly incorporated. This is your delicious stuffing.
- Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce (about 1 cup) over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Carefully stuff each cooked shell with the cheese and spinach mixture. Place the filled shells open-side up in the baking dish over the sauce.
- Pour the remaining marinara sauce evenly over the stuffed shells.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese over the top of the sauce.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly golden brown.
- Let the shells rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy this taste of home.
Notes
- Squeeze the thawed spinach very dry to keep your filling from becoming watery.
- You can prepare the shells and filling ahead of time; cover and refrigerate for up to a day before baking. Add 10 minutes to the bake time if baking straight from the refrigerator.
- Use your favorite jarred marinara sauce to save time on busy days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 shells
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 60mg