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Fall in love with these stuffed shells that have spinach, marinara sauce, and three kinds of cheese! It’s a special classic that will feed a crowd, and they’re simple to put together.
You’ll also enjoy these Cheesy Beef Stuffed Shells and these Taco Stuffed Shells.
Why you’ll love it
These ricotta stuffed shells don’t stray too far from traditional versions you may have tried, but they’re over-the-top delicious with the perfect blend of Italian herbs and a hint of garlic. I think you’ll agree it takes basic Italian-inspired flavors to the next level.
There’s something just so comforting about a baked pasta dish. It’s great for a casual meal or a cozy Sunday supper with close friends and family. I find myself making these stuffed shells over and over since they’re totally uncomplicated and have minimal prep time!
What you’ll need
- Jumbo shells – you’ll find these oversized shells in the pasta aisle of your grocery store
- Marinara sauce – choose a brand you really enjoy the taste of since it’s a big component, or make Homemade Marinara Sauce
- Spinach – it just tastes so good with ricotta cheese. I use chopped frozen spinach, but you can use fresh if you sauté it first.
- Ricotta – I prefer ricotta made with whole milk for ultimate creaminess
- Parmesan – use freshly grated for best taste, texture, and meltability
- Egg – for binding everything together
- Salt & pepper – be generous with both
- Italian seasoning – it’s a dried herb blend that’s in one convenient jar. The combination is fantastic in these shells!
- Garlic powder – to amp up the savory flavor even more
- Mozzarella – for that irresistible melty top layer
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- I use this 9×13 casserole dish.
- This grater is great for the parmesan cheese. It’s important to grate your own cheese for freshness and texture.
- Here are the glass prep bowls I use again and again.
How to make stuffed shells
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Preheat the oven. Boil water and cook the pasta shells for a couple of minutes less than package directions indicate. Meanwhile, add the marinara sauce to a baking dish. Drain the cooked shells, discarding any broken ones.
Thaw the spinach and squeeze out the water. Add to a mixing bowl along with the ricotta, parmesan, egg, salt and pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Stir it all together until combined.
Stuff each shell with the cheese mixture and place in the baking dish. Top with the mozzarella, cover with foil, and bake! Broil carefully if you like to finish it off, and add fresh basil if desired for a pop of freshness.
Pro tips for filling stuffed shells
- I just used a small spoon to stuff the shells. It can get a bit messy, but that’s totally ok! You don’t have to be precise.
- Some people find the easiest way is to fill a large ZipLoc bag or pastry bag with the ricotta mixture, snip the tip off, and squeeze the mixture into the shells.
- You could even use a small ice cream scoop with a lever so the filling comes out smoothly and it’s nicely rounded.
Substitutions and variations
- Since this is a fairly standard recipe, I don’t recommend swapping out the ricotta, but if you absolutely have to, cottage cheese can be a decent substitute.
- If you’ve got some fresh herbs from the garden, feel free to use those instead of the Italian seasoning.
- You can definitely use fresh minced garlic instead of the garlic powder if you prefer.
- Want to kick it up a notch? Add in some crushed red pepper flakes for a bit of heat!
Can you make stuffed shells ahead of time?
- You sure can! For the fridge, assemble up to step 6, cover tightly with aluminum foil or a lid, and refrigerate. You can prep it up to 2 days ahead of baking it.
- For the freezer, assemble up to step 6, cover tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to bake it, let the casserole dish warm up on the counter for at least 30 minutes before putting it in the oven so it doesn’t crack, and then add on extra baking time. Another 30 minutes or so should do it, but be sure to check the shells are nice and hot before serving. You could also let it thaw in the fridge overnight and then bake the next day.
What to serve with stuffed shells
- Garlic Bread, garlic knots, or a slice of crusty bread would be my pick!
- A simple side salad with homemade Caesar or Italian Dressing also pairs well.
- It’s great as a vegetarian main course all on its own, but you could have even more veggies and make these Easy Roasted Green Beans on the side.
Leftovers and storage
- They will last 3-4 days in the fridge. Try reheating them slowly (and on a lower heat) in the oven or the microwave.
- You could try freezing leftover shells, but I don’t recommend it. In my experience, cooked pasta and melted cheese can get a kind of weird texture after thawing.
More cozy pasta recipes
Did you enjoy these stuffed shells as much as I do? Let me know in the comments section below! You can also tag me on Instagram if you made this or any S&L recipe.
Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells
Ingredients
- 24 uncooked jumbo shells see note
- 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 16 ounces frozen spinach thawed
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- For serving: fresh basil and/or chopped parsley optional, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375F and move the rack to the top third of the oven.
- Boil a salted pot of water and cook the shells 1 minute less than package directions indicate. Once the shells are done, drain them and keep them in your colander/strainer until needed.
- Pour the jar of marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 casserole dish and spread it out evenly.
- While the shells cook, thaw the spinach and squeeze the water out thoroughly. Add it to a prep bowl along with the ricotta, parmesan, egg, salt & pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Stir together.
- Using a small spoon, add the filling into each shell and add them one-by-one to the casserole dish.
- Top the stuffed shells with the mozzarella and cover the casserole dish tightly with foil.
- Bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and broil for a few minutes to brown the cheese (watch it carefully so it doesn't burn).
- Serve immediately with extra salt & pepper as needed and fresh basil and/or parsley if using.
Notes
- Serves 4-6 depending on portion size. 4-5 shells per person is a reasonable portion size, especially if it’s served with something else.
- Generally, jumbo shells come in 12 ounce packages. It’s a good idea to boil the whole pack (or a few more than the 24 shells the recipe calls for) since some of the shells will break. Also, the actual number of shells you will use depends on how full you stuff them and how many shells you can fit in your baking dish. The size of “jumbo” shells can vary from brand to brand.
- You can use fresh spinach if you prefer. Simply sauté 16 oz. of fresh baby spinach in a skillet until wilted, let it cool, and then chop it.
- See blog post for make ahead and freezing tips.
- This recipe can also be found on page 61 of the Salt & Lavender: Everyday Essentials cookbook.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I had never made or had stuffed shells before trying this recipe and man I can not wait to make these again! My husband and daughter both loved them. Glad I was able to try something new that seemed a bit daunting but ended up being super easy to make!
That makes me so happy!! Thank you, Annie!!
So easy that this Dad could make it. I went back for seconds and then thirds!
I’m thrilled to hear that, Greg! Appreciate your review! 😀
I can’t wait to make this. Every recipe I’ve tried has been just delightful and heartily eaten by my family. It’s rare to have leftovers, LOL! Thank you, Natasha, for taking the time to offer your delicious recipes!
Awww I love that!! You’re very welcome. Let me know how it goes! 😀
This is an excellent dish. Delicious, easy to make and everyone in the family enjoyed it. I loved the addition of spinach!
Thank you so much!!!
Made this tonight for our family Lenten meal. It was such a fantastic hit!! My 5
Yr old loved even though the spinach was obviously present. Your recipes are all always a hit in our household and you are always my go to cooking website for new recipes. Thank you so much!!!
Aww I love that!! 😀 Thank you so much, Victoria! Appreciate your review. Let me know what else you try.
Hi! I’m curious if you ever tried making this with ground beef in addition to the ricotta/spinach?
Hi! I haven’t, but I think that would be a great addition. You may need more shells than suggested, though, to fit all the filling. Let me know if you try! 🙂 By the way, you may also like my ground beef stuffed shells. I’ll link the recipe here: https://bit.ly/3Skiqxe