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Lunch Dinner Vegetarian Pasta Italian
4.6 from 100 votes

Stuffed Shells

Jump to RecipeVideoPrintRate
By: Joanna Cismaru •3/14/22 38 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

These easy Stuffed Shells are perfect to throw together on a weeknight and impressive enough to serve guests. They’re saucy, oh-so-cheesy, and loaded with a ricotta, spinach, and parmesan filling.

a spoon pulling a stuffed shell from a casserole dish

Whenever you’re in the mood to eat some cheesy pasta, this recipe of cheese and spinach stuffed shells is perfect – absolutely perfect! It is a rich, hearty, stick to your ribs, carby and cheesy delight. While looking at this may have you thinking this is a really time consuming dinner, believe it or not these stuffed shells can be on your dinner table in under one hour.

These jumbo shells are loaded with cheese, both ricotta and Parmesan cheese. Of course there’s spinach in them too, which makes these shells healthy, in my opinion. I topped the shells with lots mozzarella cheese because, let’s face it, these shells are all about that cheesy goodness. Comfort food at its finest. This is such a great dish because it’s quick, and it’s easy to make.

Frozen Or Fresh Spinach?

I opted for frozen today to make things easier for myself, but use whichever you would prefer!

Frozen

Now my recipe calls for frozen spinach that has been completely thawed. Thawed frozen spinach can bring a lot of liquid to this dish so be sure that it’s been completely drained before incorporating and try and squeeze as much water out of it as possible.

Fresh

If you’re using fresh spinach be sure to cut off the stems before incorporating. Wilt the spinach in a pan with some oil and drain after removing. Roughly chop the spinach and you’re good to go. You’ll want to use about 1 pound of fresh spinach for this recipe.

overhead shot of all ingredients needed to make stuffed pasta shells

Ingredients in Stuffed Shells

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

  • Jumbo pasta shells – This recipe will also work for manicotti or cannelloni, however as those types of pasta are a bit larger than jumbo shells you may need more filling.
  • Ricotta cheese – Whipped cottage cheese would be a good substitute if needed.
  • Parmesan cheese – Fresh is always better! Find yourself a good block to grate. You can use more or less as you like, but it really gives lots of great flavor to the filling.
  • Frozen chopped spinach – Squeeze out as much excess water from the spinach as you can before going ahead with the recipe.
  • Egg – The egg can be left out in this recipe if you prefer. It helps bind the filling together but isn’t absolutely necessary.
  • Salt & pepper – Season to taste. Keep in mind the parmesan will add some saltiness, so be careful with the salt.
  • Marinara sauce – Use your favorite type of sauce, store bought or make your own.
  • Mozzarella – You can use more or less cheese as you like. I prefer to use block cheese versus pre-shredded cheese in a bag.
  • Fresh basil – A sprinkle of some fresh basil over the shells after they come out of the oven adds amazing bright flavor.
process shots showing how to make stuffed shells

How to Make Stuffed Shells

  1. Prep the pasta: Preheat the oven to 400F. Add the shells to a large pot of well salted boiling water and cook according to package instructions until they’re al dente. Make sure to stir the shells often and keep an eye on them as they may stick together. Rinse well with cold water in the strainer.
  2. Make the filling: Mix the ricotta, parmesan, spinach, egg, salt and pepper in a bowl. Scoop it into a large freezer bag or piping bag. Snip the tip of the piping bag or corner of the freezer bag to a 1″ diameter.
  3. Assemble the shells: Pour half the marinara in a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. Pipe each shell with about 2 tbsp of the cheese and spinach mixture and place in the casserole dish over the sauce. Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the shells and top with mozzarella. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until bubbly, then broil for 2-5 minutes or until the cheese browns.
  4. Finish the dish: Garnish with fresh basil and freshly cracked pepper.
two white plates with two stuffed pasta shells each

What Else Can I Use for The Filling?

Feel free to get creative with these great little shells. By no means should my recipe be the definitive list of what can and should go in your pasta dish. Try adding some of these flavorful morsels to your dish or make substitutions as necessary, trust me you’ll thank me later.

VeggiesMeat
MushroomsGround beef
LeeksGround pork
KaleItalian Sausage
SquashChorizo
Sun Dried TomatoesLamb
Chicken
overhead shot of pasta shells in a white casserole dish

Some Tips

  1. I recommend boiling the entire package of pasta shells, even though we only need 18 because some of them may tend to break during boiling and we want 18 shells that are intact.
  2. Be sure to rinse your shells well with cold water in your strainer before incorporating it into your dish. We want to rinse all that residual starch off of our pasta.
  3. Piping your filling mixture into your shells through a bag with the corner snipped will ensure we get perfectly proportional shells with just enough filling. If you’d rather not take this step you can always use a medium sized spoon.
  4. Be sure to broil your dish before pulling it out of the oven, this will allow our melted mozzarella to brown and become perfectly golden on top.

Make Ahead

These shells make for a great quasi casserole that can be prepared a couple days in advance. Make it over the weekend and bake it when you’re ready to serve.

Follow the instructions as noted in the recipe right after assembly but right before baking. Cover the casserole with aluminum foil then refrigerate until ready to bake. The day you want to bake this take it out of the fridge while you’re preheating the oven to 350 F degrees. Bake as instructed in the recipe then garnish and serve.

a spoon holding two pasta shells in a casserole dish full of stuffed shells

Leftovers

Transfer leftover baked stuffed shells to airtight containers and refrigerate for 3 to 5 days.

Freezing

Freeze in a tightly sealed dish for up to a month. When ready to serve, take it out of the freezer the night before and thaw it in the refrigerator. Bake according to instructions.

overhead of two stuffed shells in a white plate

How To Serve

This rich, creamy dish pairs beautifully with light and simple sides like salads and roasted veggies. These stuffed shells are completely satisfying on their own so if you’d rather just curl up on the couch with a big old bowl, I won’t stop you.

  • Creamy Cucumber Salad
  • Greek Salad
  • Mediterranean Couscous Salad
  • Kale And Quinoa Salad With Lemon Vinaigrette
  • Tabbouleh Salad
  • Italian Roasted Mushrooms And Veggies
overhead shot of stuffed pasta shells in a casserole dish

More Incredible Pasta Dishes To Try:

  • Chicken Lasagna alla Bolognese
  • Cheesy Beef Tortellini Enchilada Casserole
  • Zucchini Lasagna
  • Taco Lasagna
  • One Pot Hamburger Helper Lasagna
  • Lasagna Roll-ups
  • Buffalo Chicken Lasagna

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

side view shot of stuffed shells in a baking dish with a serving spoon taking a scoop
Print
4.59 from 100 votes

Stuffed Shells

Prep 30 minutes minutes
Cook 32 minutes minutes
Total 1 hour hour 2 minutes minutes
Rate Recipe
These easy Stuffed Shells are perfect to throw together on a weeknight and impressive enough to serve guests. They're saucy, oh-so-cheesy, and loaded with a ricotta, spinach, and parmesan filling.
9

Ingredients

  • 12 ounce jumbo pasta shells (dry)
  • 2 cups ricotta cheese
  • 4 ounce Parmesan cheese (grated)
  • 1 cup frozen chopped spinach (thawed)
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
  • 24 ounce marinara sauce (1 jar)
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)
  • fresh basil (chopped, for garnish)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Prep the pasta: Preheat the oven to 400F. Add the shells to a large pot of well salted boiling water and cook according to package instructions until they're al dente. Make sure to stir the shells often and keep an eye on them as they may stick together. Rinse well with cold water in the strainer.
  • Make the filling: Squeeze out as much excess water from the spinach as you can. Mix the ricotta, parmesan, spinach, egg, salt and pepper in a bowl. Scoop it into a large freezer bag or piping bag. Snip the tip of the piping bag or corner of the freezer bag to a 1" diameter.
  • Assemble the shells: Pour half the marinara in a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. Pipe each shell with about 2 tbsp of the cheese and spinach mixture and place in the casserole dish over the sauce. Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the shells and top with mozzarella. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until bubbly, then broil for 2-5 minutes or until the cheese browns.
  • Finish the dish: Garnish with fresh basil and freshly cracked pepper.

Equipment

  • 9×13-inch Casserole Dish

Video

Notes

  1. Transfer leftover baked stuffed shells to airtight containers and refrigerate for 3 to 5 days.
  2. Freeze in a tightly sealed dish for up to a month. When ready to serve, take it out of the freezer the night before and thaw it in the refrigerator. Bake according to instructions.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 2shellsCalories: 390kcal (20%)Carbohydrates: 36g (12%)Protein: 23g (46%)Fat: 17g (26%)Saturated Fat: 10g (63%)Cholesterol: 74mg (25%)Sodium: 951mg (41%)Potassium: 489mg (14%)Fiber: 3g (13%)Sugar: 5g (6%)Vitamin A: 2896IU (58%)Vitamin C: 6mg (7%)Calcium: 431mg (43%)Iron: 2mg (11%)
© Author Jo

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

side view shot of stuffed shells in a baking dish with a serving spoon taking a scoop

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Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Through Jo Cooks, I invite you to join me in my kitchen as we explore delicious recipes from around the globe, celebrate the joy of cooking, and make every meal a memorable one. Happy cooking!

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38 Comments
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Cristina
Cristina
Posted: 4 months ago

Is an “ounce” a liquid measure or a weight?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Cristina
Posted: 4 months ago

For pasta or cheese is weight, for the marinara sauce it’s liquid.

0
Reply
Midwest Cook
Midwest Cook
Posted: 5 months ago

4 stars
Delicious. But don’t boil the entire box of Jumbo shells — the 42 shells in a 12 oz box would give you enough for an entire second recipe! I worked from the cookbook version of the recipe, which doesn’t mention only needing 18 “good” shells for a full recipe, and intended to make a half-recipe. I squeezed 15 filled shells into an 8×8 pan.

0
Reply
Andrea
Andrea
Posted: 7 months ago

5 stars
Very good! Next time I will cut down mozzarella to just 1 cup as it was a bit too cheesy this time.

1
Reply
Neca
Neca
Posted: 8 months ago

4 stars
I made this recipe tonight, the only modification was that I added small garlic butter shrimps to the shells and in the dish. The only reason I’m giving 4 stars is because I found it rather heavy. But if I lightened up the cheese, I bet it would be a 5 star dish.

0
Reply
Kayla Trexler
Kayla Trexler
Posted: 1 year ago

5 stars
My husband and I are huge lasagna fans and assumed this would taste similar. It was SO much better than lasagna, the spinach (I used a block of frozen Bird’s Eye that I dethawed and pressed the liquid out of) mixed in with the ricotta really added that extra something. I just used a spoon to pack the ricotta mixture into the cooked shells, it worked like a charm! The only thing I did differently ingredient-wise is I browned a pound of ground beef and mixed the jarred sauce in on the stove. Delicious recipe, will definitely make it again!

0
Reply
Cooking Grandma
Cooking Grandma
Posted: 1 year ago

Great recipe BUT…jumbo shells are hard to find so I used manicotti tubes.

0
Reply
Diane M
Diane M
Posted: 1 year ago

We love this recipe and make it often! We have a baby on the way and I plan to make a few batches of these then freezing them to have some easy meals once baby arrives. I’m surprised your instructions say it will only last a month in the freezer though! What’s the reason?

0
Reply
Tera Killip
Tera Killip
Posted: 2 years ago

4 stars
Prepped these beauties on Wednesday and ate them on Friday. I added in mushrooms and used fresh spinach. These were surprisingly rich and oh so delicious! I will be making these shells again. Yum!

1
Reply
Joe D from cape cod, Mass
Joe D from cape cod, Mass
Posted: 3 years ago

Thank you for the recipe…I made my own sauce, but used your input for the filling and cooking time and it was perfect!

0
Reply
Ann Baker
Ann Baker
Posted: 3 years ago

5 stars
Incredible and so easy to make. I didn’t have frozen spinach on hand so substituted a handful of chopped fresh basil. Also used Rao’s Marinara which we love. Huge hit with the family!

0
Reply
Patricia Walton
Patricia Walton
Posted: 3 years ago

I made this minus the spinach. It was so good. It’s definitely a keeper in our house

0
Reply
Bianca F.
Bianca F.
Posted: 3 years ago

I just made this today and it came out amazing !! I’m new to cooking so this was nice and easy to follow ! Super yummy and goes perfect w garlic bread.

0
Reply
vivian
vivian
Posted: 3 years ago

5 stars
Another delicious, easy to make recipe, thanks to you, Jo. I served this for Sunday dinner with a big salad, garlic bread, and some Italian sausage for the meat eaters. A great way to squeeze the water out of chopped spinach is witha potato ricer.

1
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  vivian
Posted: 3 years ago

That’s a great idea! We’re so glad you loved the recipe 🙂

0
Reply
sandy
sandy
Reply to  Jo Cooks Team
Posted: 3 years ago

Can you sub. fresh spinach for the frozen and do you cook it first?

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  sandy
Posted: 3 years ago

Yes I’d cook it down! Just 6-7 cups of fresh, torn spinach leaves.

0
Reply
Carole
Carole
Posted: 3 years ago

if you add meat to the recipe, does the cook time remain the same, or do you suggest pre-cooking the meat

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Carole
Posted: 3 years ago

Cook the meat first and mix it with the sauce.

0
Reply
Donna Westover
Donna Westover
Posted: 3 years ago

5 stars
Clear and concise recipe! Soooooo good!!!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Donna Westover
Posted: 3 years ago

So glad you liked this!

0
Reply

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I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is the place where I share my passion for easy and delicious recipes. From comforting classics to global flavors, I believe that cooking should be fun, approachable, and most importantly, rewarding. Join me on this culinary journey and let’s get cooking!

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