Description
A comforting and impressive vegetarian dinner recipe featuring creamy ricotta, spinach, and jumbo pasta shells baked in marinara sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces jumbo pasta shells
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the jumbo shells according to the package instructions, then drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Set them aside.
- In a large bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, thawed and drained spinach, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, egg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until fully combined.
- Using a spoon, fill each shell with the spinach ricotta mixture. Ensure they are generously stuffed but not bursting.
- Spread 1½ cups of marinara sauce on the bottom of your 9×13-inch baking dish. Arrange the stuffed shells on top, open side up.
- Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the shells, making sure they’re evenly coated. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella on top.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Let the dish cool for 5 minutes, then serve warm. Garnish with fresh basil or extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
[‘Don’t overcook the shells; they should be just al dente.’, ‘Drain spinach well to avoid a watery filling.’, ‘Taste the filling before stuffing the shells to adjust seasoning.’, ‘Line the baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking.’, ‘This dish freezes well, so consider making an extra batch for future meals.’]
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 stuffed shells
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 15
Keywords: stuffed shells, spinach ricotta, vegetarian dinner, Italian comfort food, easy dinner recipe