Description
Tender jumbo pasta shells filled with a creamy blend of ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic, and spinach, baked in marinara until bubbly and golden.
Ingredients
12–15 jumbo pasta shells (about half of a 12-oz box)
2 cups whole-milk ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 cups fresh baby spinach, chopped (or thawed frozen spinach, well drained)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups marinara sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 °F (190 °C). Cook shells in salted boiling water until just al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water; set aside.
- In a skillet over medium heat, warm olive oil. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Stir in spinach and cook 1–2 minutes until wilted; season lightly with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl to cool.
- In a large bowl, combine ricotta, ½ cup mozzarella, Parmesan, beaten egg, and cooled spinach mixture. Season with salt and pepper; stir until smooth.
- Spread 1 cup marinara in the bottom of a 9×13″ baking dish. Stuff each shell with about 2 Tbsp filling and arrange seam-side up in the dish.
- Spoon remaining marinara over shells and sprinkle with remaining ½ cup mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 minutes more until cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Squeeze excess moisture from spinach in a towel to prevent watery filling.
Make ahead: assemble in a freezer-safe dish, cover tightly, and freeze. Bake from frozen, adding 10–15 minutes to cooking time.
Swap half the ricotta for mascarpone for extra richness.
Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the filling for a spicy kick.
To reheat leftovers, cover with foil and bake at 350 °F for 15–20 minutes with a splash of sauce to keep pasta moist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 shells (approx. 1/4 recipe)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg