Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells with Marinara Sauce

By Lynne on March 25, 2026 » Go away a assessment

These Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells make a superb meal that can fulfill your entire household! Jumbo shells are filled with a creamy ricotta and spinach filling and baked in a easy selfmade marinara sauce. Pair them with a inexperienced salad and a few garlic bread for a hearty weeknight dinner!

I really like making stuffed pasta shells for my household! They’re so scrumptious, and you need to use all kinds of fillings to make them distinctive. Stuffed shells are nice for meal prep, and I like to make this hearty baked pasta dish for a meal practice when households want a little bit assist with a meal!

This spinach ricotta stuffed shells recipe truly type of jogs my memory of Spinach Dip, solely in shell kind and with out the artichokes! I imply, you possibly can’t actually go incorrect with three sorts of cheese, proper?

Substances for Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

You solely want a handful of substances to make the filling for these stuffed shells. Right here’s what I exploit:

• Jumbo pasta shells
• Ricotta cheese
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Frozen spinach, thawed and drained
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Egg
• Dried parsley

Selfmade Marinara Sauce Substances

I exploit my scrumptious selfmade marinara sauce on this and different pasta recipes. A lot of the substances are pantry staples. Collect these substances collectively:

• Olive oil
• Minced onion
• Garlic cloves, minced
• Tomato puree
• Tomato paste
• Freshly chopped basil
• Granulated white sugar
• Kosher salt
• Dried oregano
• Freshly floor black pepper
• Crimson pepper flakes
• Apple cider vinegar (or you possibly can substitute lemon juice)

To get all the main points for this recipe, take a look at the printable recipe card on the finish of the submit!

How one can Make Spinach Stuffed Shells

If I don’t have already got some marinara sauce readily available, I’ll begin by making that first.

1. In a big skillet or saucepan, I warmth a little bit olive oil over medium warmth. Then I add the minced onion and garlic and cook dinner till aromatic, about 1-2  minutes.
2. Subsequent, I add the tomato puree and tomato paste, sugar, basil, salt, oregano, pepper, and purple pepper flakes. I cut back the warmth to a simmer over low and cook dinner for about half-hour, stirring often.

Cook dinner and Stuff the Shells

1. I cook dinner my jumbo shells in a big pot of water in keeping with the package deal instructions for al dente, then drain and put aside.
2. Whereas the pasta cooks, I preheat the oven to 350 levels F. I put together a 9×13-inch baking pan by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray.
3. In a big bowl, I beat an egg, then add ricotta cheese, drained spinach, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, the Parmesan cheese, and parsley. I combine this all collectively properly.
4. Then I add all the pasta sauce to the ready baking dish, spreading it evenly across the backside of the pan. I fill every of the cooked shells with the cheese combination and place them into the baking dish on prime of the sauce.
5. Lastly, I cowl your complete dish with aluminum foil and bake for half-hour.
   When you like, it can save you a portion of the sauce to pour excessive of the shells earlier than baking. Generally, I prefer to take away the foil after half-hour, add extra mozzarella cheese, then bake it uncovered for one more 5-10 minutes or till the cheese melts.

FAQs

Can I make Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells forward of time?

Sure, you possibly can completely make stuffed shells forward of time. I prefer to double the recipe and make one dish for now and one other for later! Assemble the stuffed pasta as directed, cowl the dish tightly with foil, and refrigerate for as much as 1–3 days earlier than baking.

They may also be frozen unbaked for as much as 3 months, permitting for a fast, simple meal that bakes immediately from the freezer. Simply stick it within the preheated oven and bake for an additional 10-Quarter-hour or till the filling is heat all through.

How do I retailer leftover Spinach Ricotta Stuffed Shells?

Retailer them in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat them within the microwave, coated, or in an oven till heat all through.

Can I exploit contemporary spinach on this recipe?

You may, however it must be cooked down and drained. You’d want a few pound of contemporary spinach to get sufficient for this recipe.

What’s the easiest way to stuff the shells?

I prefer to switch my filling to a piping bag or Ziploc bag, snip off the nook of the bag, and pipe the filling into every particular person shell. It’s so much much less messy! However you can even simply use a big spoon to switch the filling!

Extra Stuffed Shell Recipes

Listed here are among the stuffed shell recipes I’ve created. What different filling ought to I make subsequent time?

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Created by: Lynne Feifer

Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Complete Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells are pasta shells full of a creamy ricotta and spinach filling, baked in a selfmade marinara sauce. They pair completely with salad and slices of garlic bread.

Cook dinner ModeForestall your display screen from going darkish

Directions

Marinara

• In a big skillet or massive saucepan over medium warmth, warmth the 4 tablespoons olive oil. Add the minced onion, 2 cloves minced garlic and cook dinner till aromatic and barely mushy, about 2 minutes.

• Add the 28 ounces tomato puree, 6 ounces tomato paste, 1 teaspoon sugar, 2 tablespoons contemporary basil, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon purple pepper flakes.

• Cut back to simmer and cook dinner for half-hour, stirring often. Add the 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar after half-hour and stir properly to include. Ladle or rigorously pour contents into the ready baking dish. I prefer to pour all the sauce into the underside of the pan after which place the shells in, however you possibly can place some sauce on prime if you would like.

Shells

• When able to make shells, preheat oven to 350 levels F.

• Cook dinner pasta shells in keeping with package deal instructions.

Spinach Ricotta Filling

• In a big mixing bowl, beat the egg. Add the ricotta cheese, 8 ounces squeezed spinach, 1 cup of the mozzarella, Parmesan cheese and parsley. Combine properly.

• Place 1/3 of the marinara sauce into the underside of the ready baking dish.

• Fill every shell with the ricotta filling and place into the baking dish.

• Cowl the pan with tin foil, and bake for half-hour.

Notes

• Don’t have apple cider vinegar, you possibly can substitute 1 tablespoon contemporary lemon juice. 
• When you select to cowl the the shells with a little bit of sauce earlier than baking and need to add further mozzarella on prime, remove the tin foil after half-hour. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella over the shells, and return to oven to bake uncovered for one more 5 – 10 minutes or till cheese is melted.

Diet

Energy: 389kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 21g | Fats: 23g | Saturated Fats: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 11g | Trans Fats: 0.003g | Ldl cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 1432mg | Potassium: 1181mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 6147IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 466mg | Iron: 5mg

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