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spinach and ricotta stuffed shells baked with marinara and basil

Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells Recipe

Creamy, cheesy Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells baked in marinara sauce; the ultimate comfort food for weeknight dinners or family gatherings.
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Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American Italian, Italian
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Resting Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 425kcal
Cost: $12

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Fine-mesh strainer
  • 9x13 Baking Dish
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Wooden Spoon
  • Aluminum foil

Ingredients

For Pasta Shells

  • 12 oz jumbo pasta shells
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt for pasta water

For Filling

  • 15 oz ricotta cheese drained
  • 10 oz frozen spinach thawed and squeezed dry
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded, divided
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
  • 0.25 teaspoon nutmeg optional

For Assembly

  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded, topping
  • 0.25 cup fresh basil chopped, garnish
  • 2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese extra, serving

Instructions

  • Cook jumbo shells in salted water until al dente; drain and rinse with cold water.
  • Combine ricotta, spinach, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, garlic, and seasonings until creamy.
  • Fill each pasta shell with ricotta-spinach mixture.
  • Spread marinara in baking dish, arrange stuffed shells, top with sauce and mozzarella.
  • Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes.
  • Remove foil and bake 10–15 minutes more until golden and bubbly.
  • Let stand 5 minutes; garnish with basil and Parmesan before serving.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Nutrition

Serving: 280g | Calories: 425kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 890mg | Potassium: 460mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 3500IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 340mg | Iron: 3mg