Stuffed Shells with Ricotta and Spinach (Printer Version)

Jumbo shells stuffed with ricotta-spinach filling, baked in homemade tomato sauce with melted mozzarella topping.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 20 jumbo pasta shells
02 - Salt for boiling water

→ Filling

03 - 14 oz ricotta cheese
04 - 9 oz frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
05 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 1 garlic clove, minced
08 - 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Tomato Sauce

11 - 24 oz tomato passata or crushed tomatoes
12 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
13 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
14 - 2 tbsp olive oil
15 - 1 tsp dried oregano
16 - 1/2 tsp dried basil
17 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Topping

18 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
19 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F.
02 - Cook the jumbo pasta shells in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside on a tray to prevent sticking.
03 - In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, squeezed spinach, Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and set aside.
04 - Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until soft, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add tomato passata, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes.
05 - Spread half of the tomato sauce in the bottom of a large baking dish.
06 - Fill each shell with about 1.5 to 2 tablespoons of the ricotta-spinach mixture and arrange them in the baking dish.
07 - Spoon the remaining tomato sauce evenly over the stuffed shells.
08 - Sprinkle mozzarella and remaining Parmesan cheese on top.
09 - Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
10 - Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and golden. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of creamy ricotta and tender pasta creates that cozy hug-in-a-bowl feeling
  • It makes the house smell incredible while bubbling away in the oven
  • Leftovers somehow taste even better the next day
02 -
  • Dont skip squeezing the spinach dry, I learned this the hard way when my filling turned into soup
  • Overcook the shells now and theyll turn to mush in the oven, undercook slightly instead
  • The filling expands slightly during baking, so dont overstuff or they might burst
03 -
  • Use a piping bag or zip-top bag with the corner snipped to fill shells quickly and neatly
  • Room temperature ricotta mixes more smoothly than cold
  • Let the sauce cool slightly before assembling so it coats the shells without melting the cheese too soon
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