Description
Jumbo pasta shells filled with a creamy blend of ricotta, spinach, and Parmesan, baked in rich marinara and topped with melted mozzarella for the ultimate Italian comfort dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 20 jumbo pasta shells
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 oz fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the pasta shells in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add chopped spinach and cook until wilted, about 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, combine ricotta, Parmesan, egg, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Fold in the cooled spinach mixture.
- Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Stuff each shell with the ricotta-spinach filling and arrange them in the dish.
- Spoon the remaining marinara sauce over the shells, then sprinkle with shredded mozzarella.
- Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.
Notes
- Use frozen spinach if fresh is not available—just thaw and squeeze out excess moisture.
- Make ahead by assembling the dish a day in advance and refrigerating until ready to bake.
- Add crushed red pepper flakes to the filling for a spicy kick.
- Serve with garlic bread or a fresh green salad for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/5 of recipe
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 95mg