Description
Deliciously stuffed pasta shells filled with ricotta and spinach, topped with marinara sauce and melted cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12–15 pieces large pasta shells
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- to taste salt and pepper
- Fresh basil as needed for garnish (optional)
- 2 cups marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool slightly.
- In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, chopped spinach, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, dried oregano, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Using a spoon, fill each cooked pasta shell generously with the ricotta and spinach mixture. Make sure to pack the filling so that it doesn’t spill out during baking.
- Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange the stuffed shells in a single layer on top of the sauce. Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the stuffed shells.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove the foil and sprinkle additional mozzarella cheese on top. Bake for another 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
Notes
- Use fresh basil leaves for garnish before serving.
- This recipe can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator before baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed shell
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 60mg