Stuffed Shells with Ricotta and Spinach (Printer-friendly)

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

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 20 jumbo pasta shells (conchiglioni)
02 - Salt, for boiling water

→ Filling

03 - 14 oz ricotta cheese
04 - 9 oz frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry (or 10 oz fresh spinach, wilted and chopped)
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 so they do not stick together.
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 10-15 minutes.
05 - Spread half of the tomato sauce in the bottom of a large baking dish (13x9 inch).
06 - Fill each shell with about 1.5-2 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 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
11 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The ricotta spinach filling stays incredibly creamy without ever becoming watery
  • Baked pasta dishes like this actually taste better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep
  • Something magical happens when tomato sauce caramelizes around the edges of the shells
02 -
  • Squeezing every drop of water from thawed spinach is tedious but non-negotiable for proper texture
  • The shells will continue absorbing sauce while resting, so do not panic if they look slightly underdone coming out of the oven
  • Using a piping bag instead of a spoon for filling shells changed my life, it is somehow three times faster
03 -
  • Reserve some pasta water before draining and stir a splash into your sauce if it seems too thick
  • Fresh herbs like basil sprinkled right before serving add a bright pop that complements the baked flavors
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