Are you looking for a delicious and flavorful dish that's perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight meal? Look no further than stuffed shells with spinach and cheese. This classic Italian dish is sure to be a hit with your family and friends. With its combination of tender pasta shells, creamy spinach and ricotta filling, and melted cheese, this dish is both comforting and satisfying. The best part is that it's surprisingly easy to make, so you can enjoy this restaurant-quality meal in the comfort of your own home.
Here are our top 10 tried and tested recipes!
CHEESY SPINACH-STUFFED SHELLS
This is my own personal recipe. I'm very proud of it because I am still a beginner cook and it was the first recipe I created. You can adjust it to your liking by doubling the spinach or adding some meat. -Laci Hooten, McKinney, Texas
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h30m
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°. Cook pasta shells according to package directions for al dente. Drain; rinse with cold water., Meanwhile, in a small skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and onion; cook and stir until vegetables are tender, 4-6 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Remove from heat; cool slightly., In a large bowl, mix eggs, ricotta cheese, spinach, basil and pepper. Stir in olives, mushroom mixture and 3/4 cup each cheese blend and mozzarella cheese., Spread 1 cup sauce into a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Fill pasta shells with cheese mixture; place in baking dish, overlapping ends slightly. Spoon remaining sauce over top., Bake, covered, until heated through, 40-45 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes longer. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. If desired, sprinkle with additional basil.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 313 calories, Fat 13g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 65mg cholesterol, Sodium 642mg sodium, Carbohydrate 32g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 18g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
SPINACH AND CHEESE STUFFED PASTA SHELLS
Magnificent jumbo pasta shells stuffed to bursting with cheesy spinach filling.
Provided by KITKATY
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h20m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil, gently place pasta shells in boiling water; bring water back to boil. Cook until noodles are just tender; drain well.
- Squeeze spinach dry. Combine spinach, ricotta, 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, fennel, basil and garlic in a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper; mix well.
- Spread 1/2 cup marinara sauce evenly over the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Fill each pasta shell with the spinach cheese mixture. Arrange the shells, filling side up in the baking dish. Spoon remaining marinara sauce over the shells. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese on top of the shells.
- Cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven until heated through; about 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 702.9 calories, Carbohydrate 94.9 g, Cholesterol 59.4 mg, Fat 21.3 g, Fiber 10.2 g, Protein 33 g, SaturatedFat 11 g, Sodium 1004 mg, Sugar 15.7 g
STUFFED SHELLS (WITH SPINACH AND CHEESE)
A really unique stuffed shells recipe. I usually make this for company. The original recipe included one pound of bulk Italian sausage in the stuffing, which I have omitted for my own personal tastes. I'm getting hungry just typing this recipe and remembering how good it is!
Provided by Laura O.
Categories Pasta Shells
Time 1h15m
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- In a skillet, cook onion until tender.
- Transfer to a large bowl.
- Stir in the spinach, cream cheese, and egg.
- Add 1 cup mozzarella, cheddar, cottage cheese, parmesan, salt, pepper, and cinnamon if desired; mix well.
- Stuff shells and arrange in a greased 13x9x2 baking dish.
- Combine sauce ingredients; mix well.
- Pour over shells.
- Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
- Uncover; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.
- Return to oven for 5 minutes or until cheese melts.
SPINACH AND MUSHROOM STUFFED SHELLS
Provided by Jeff Mauro, host of Sandwich King
Categories main-dish
Time 1h40m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 24
Steps:
- Lightly grease a rimmed baking sheet with the oil and set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cook until al dente according to the package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water and set aside for making the Vodka Sauce. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Drain well. Arrange the pasta in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- In a food processor, add the mushrooms and shallot and pulse until chopped into about 1/8-inch pieces. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the mushrooms and shallots. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the spinach to the skillet and cover to allow the spinach to wilt, about 2 minutes more. Stir in the parsley and transfer to a large bowl.
- In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, pine nuts, basil chiffonade, 1 cup mozzarella, 1/4 cup Parmesan and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Combine the cheese mixture with the mushroom mixture. Stuff each shell with about 2 tablespoons of the filling.
- In the skillet where the mushrooms were cooked, add about 1 cup Vodka Sauce and spread it in an even layer. Arrange the stuffed shells in a circular pattern. Add the remaining 1 1/2 cups sauce, 1/4 cup Parmesan and 1/2 cup mozzarella in between and on top of the shells (leaving the tops of the shells mostly exposed). Cover and cook over medium heat until the cheese is melted and bubbling, about 10 minutes.
- Garnish with more Parmesan and basil leaves, and serve.
- In a large skillet over low heat, add the butter, onion, garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the tomatoes, cream, vodka, tomato paste, 1/2 cup pasta cooking water and salt and pepper to taste. Let simmer for about 10 minutes, adding more reserved pasta water as needed.
SPINACH-RICOTTA STUFFED SHELLS
Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with ricotta cheese and baked in tomato sauce is a comforting classic. For this version, add in loads of cooked greens to the filling to add a fresh and colorful vegetable component, without skimping on the oozy cheese.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 1h30m
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large wide pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring, until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes; season with salt. (You should have about 4 heaping cups of sauce.)
- Make the stuffed shells: Preheat the oven to 375˚ F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cook as the label directs for baking, about 9 minutes. Rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Spread out on a baking sheet.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the spinach and cook, tossing occasionally, until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to a large plate lined with a kitchen towel. Squeeze to remove any excess liquid, then finely chop.
- Put the spinach in a large bowl and add the ricotta, mozzarella, parsley, Parmesan, lemon zest, beaten egg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Stir until combined.
- To assemble, spread about half of the sauce in the bottom of a 10-by-14-inch baking dish. Evenly fill the shells with the spinach-ricotta mixture using a spoon, or pipe it in using a pastry bag. Arrange the shells side by side, open-side up, in the baking dish on top of the sauce, then top with the remaining sauce.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake until heated through and the sauce is simmering around the edges, about 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until any shells or cheese poking through the sauce are lightly browned in spots, about 10 more minutes. Let sit 10 minutes. Top with more Parmesan and red pepper flakes.
SPINACH STUFFED SHELLS WITH WHITE SAUCE
Here's a creamy and delicious, vegetarian main dish from Debbie Herbert in Seymour, Indiana. It's easy to assemble and looks like you really fussed. Serve with a leafy salad, crusty garlic bread and thirst-quenching iced tea.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Yield 5 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, prepare white sauce according to package directions; set aside., Preheat oven to 375°. In a small bowl, combine cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, egg white, basil, garlic powder, pepper and half of the spinach (save remaining spinach for another use). Pour half of the white sauce into a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. , Drain pasta and rinse in cold water; stuff each shell with 2 tablespoons spinach mixture. Arrange over sauce. Top with remaining white sauce. , Cover and bake 25 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 302 calories, Fat 11g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 27mg cholesterol, Sodium 646mg sodium, Carbohydrate 35g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 18g protein.
CHEESY SPINACH STUFFED SHELLS
Want comfort food on demand? These family-friendly baked shells can be assembled ahead and refrigerated or frozen so they're ready to pop in the oven with no day-of work.
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- For the sauce, combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Continue simmering for 10-15 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- While the sauce simmers, in a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta shells al dente according to package directions. Drain and immediately place them in an even layer on paper towels or parchment.
- For the filling, in a medium bowl, stir together the cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, salt, pepper, parsley, oregano and basil. Add the spinach and mix until combined. Stir in the cheeses.
- Lightly grease a 9X13-inch pan with cooking spray and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spoon about half of the sauce on the bottom of the prepared pan and spread evenly. Fill each pasta shell with an even amount of the filling (about 1/4 cup per shell, more or less) and place the shells on top of the sauce in the pan - making three rows of eight shells.
- Pour the remaining sauce evenly over the top of the shells. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 35-40 minutes. Uncover and bake five or so more minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let the shells sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.
CHEESY STUFFED SHELLS
This is a delicious baked pasta dish with large shells filled with meat, spinach and cheese that children always seem to love. It is kind of a 'spaghetti that behaves itself!'
Provided by Kimber
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add shells and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and rinse in cold water.
- Place sausage in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain and crumble. In a large bowl, combine cooked sausage, spinach, ricotta cheese, egg, garlic, lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt, pepper and oregano.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Stuff pasta shells with the sausage and cheese mixture and place in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the pasta is heated through and the cheese is melted.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 461.2 calories, Carbohydrate 51.9 g, Cholesterol 69.1 mg, Fat 18.4 g, Fiber 4.4 g, Protein 21.9 g, SaturatedFat 7.8 g, Sodium 741.3 mg, Sugar 6.1 g
SPINACH AND COTTAGE CHEESE STUFFED SHELLS (NO RICOTTA)
I have made many stuffed shell recipes, and I always end up adding stuff, substituting stuff, or taking stuff out. We are a no-ricotta-for-me house, mostly (unless it's disguised), so I use all cottage cheese. So, here is my version of spinach and cheese stuffed shells. I think they taste very good. Thank you. ;)
Provided by Greeny4444
Categories < 60 Mins
Time 50m
Yield 20 shells, 5 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, combine ingredients "cottage cheese" through "egg".
- Pour half of the sauce in a 9x13 pan (I never measure the sauce, I just pour it from the jar). Fill the shells full with the cheese mixture, and place them into the pan with the sauce.
- Drizzle the remaining sauce lightly over the top of the shells (or spoon sauce from the jar over the shells, like I do). Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 256.2, Fat 10.7, SaturatedFat 4.5, Cholesterol 60.5, Sodium 1419.1, Carbohydrate 22.7, Fiber 2.5, Sugar 14.5, Protein 18.3
STUFFED SHELLS RECIPE BY TASTY
Stuffed with a garlicky spinach-ricotta-Parmesan mixture, dressed with bright marinara sauce, topped with mozzarella cheese, and baked to golden, melty perfection, these shells are worth staying in for.
Provided by Tasty
Categories Lunch
Time 55m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the jumbo shells and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the jumbo shells through a colander.
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the garlic and stir until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Add the spinach and cook until just wilted down, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and let the spinach cool to room temperature, then roughly chop on a cutting board.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta and egg. Add the chopped spinach, Parmesan, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, the black pepper, and red pepper flakes and stir to combine.
- Fill the jumbo shells with the ricotta mixture.
- Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with olive oil. Spread 2 cups of marinara on the bottom of the pan.
- Arrange the stuffed shells in a single layer over the marinara sauce. Spread the remaining 1 cup of marinara over the shells and top with the mozzarella.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover the pan and continue baking until the cheese has melted and is golden brown, about 15 minutes.
- Garnish with the basil and serve immediately.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 497 calories, Carbohydrate 40 grams, Fat 23 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 30 grams, Sugar 4 grams
Tips:
- Use fresh spinach: Fresh spinach has a more vibrant flavor and color than frozen spinach. If you're using frozen spinach, be sure to thaw it completely and squeeze out any excess water before using.
- Don't overcook the spinach: Overcooked spinach will become mushy and lose its flavor. Cook it just until it is wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Use a variety of cheeses: A combination of cheeses, such as ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella, will create a more flavorful filling. You can also add other cheeses, such as feta, goat cheese, or Asiago.
- Season the filling well: The filling should be well-seasoned with salt, pepper, and other herbs and spices. This will help to enhance the flavor of the dish.
- Use a large pasta shell: A large pasta shell will hold more filling and make it easier to eat. You can use jumbo shells, conchiglie, or manicotti.
- Cook the shells al dente: The shells should be cooked al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. This will help to prevent them from becoming mushy when they are baked.
- Stuff the shells carefully: Be careful not to overstuff the shells, or they will burst open when they are baked. Use a spoon or a piping bag to fill the shells evenly.
- Bake the shells until they are golden brown: The shells should be baked until they are golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. This will take about 20-25 minutes.
Conclusion:
Stuffed shells with spinach and cheese is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, main course, or side dish. It is a great way to use up leftover spinach and cheese, and it can be easily customized to your liking. With a few simple tips, you can make a delicious and impressive dish that will be enjoyed by everyone at your table.
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