Tuesday, February 10, 2026
HomeCakeGarlic Hen & Spinach Stuffed Shells

Garlic Hen & Spinach Stuffed Shells


These garlic hen stuffed shells are a type of reliable, satisfying dinners you’ll come again to many times. They’re creamy, tacky, loaded with taste, and surprisingly easy to organize. Full of garlicky ricotta, hen, and spinach, then baked in marinara sauce, that is a simple crowd-pleaser that works simply as nicely for busy weeknights because it does for informal entertaining.

creamy chicken stuffed shells with marinara and garlic spinach.

If there’s one factor I like simply as a lot as baking, it’s a comforting, reliable dinner that feels slightly particular however doesn’t require a ton of fuss. These garlic hen stuffed shells examine each field. They’re hearty, flavorful, family-friendly, and ideal for every little thing from a quiet weeknight to an informal dinner with buddies.

Every jumbo pasta shell is stuffed with a creamy ricotta combination loaded with garlic, tender hen, and contemporary spinach, then nestled into marinara sauce and baked. The flavors are basic and acquainted, however the garlic and Italian seasoning give every little thing slightly additional oomph. Suppose cozy Italian-American consolation meals—the type that makes your kitchen odor unbelievable and ensures empty plates!


Why You’ll Love These Stuffed Shells

  • Make-ahead pleasant: Assemble earlier within the day and bake when prepared.
  • Nice use for leftover hen: Rotisserie hen works superbly right here.
  • Balanced and satisfying: Creamy filling, savory sauce, and simply sufficient cheese.
creamy chicken stuffed shells with marinara and garlic spinach.

Seize These Components

  • Jumbo Pasta Shells: You’ll want about 32 jumbo shells. I initially cooked a full 12-ounce field, however that was too many shells and we had 19 leftover as soon as every little thing was crammed. If you wish to keep away from extras, prepare dinner nearer to 7–8 ounces, or depend out 32 shells earlier than boiling, and save the remainder of the field for an additional time.
  • Olive Oil: For sautéing the garlic and spinach.
  • Garlic: 4 cloves could sound daring, but it surely mellows superbly because it cooks and provides so a lot taste.
  • Spinach: Recent spinach wilts shortly and blends proper into the filling.
  • Cheeses: Ricotta retains the filling creamy, parmesan provides savoriness, and mozzarella provides you that impossible to resist stretch on high.
  • Egg: Helps bind the filling so it units up because the shells bake—nonetheless creamy, however not unfastened or watery.
  • Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. If you happen to don’t have Italian seasoning, you should utilize any mixture of Italian herbs that you just like comparable to dried basil, oregano, and many others.
  • Cooked Hen: Rotisserie hen works nicely right here, however you may actually use any cooked hen, so long as it’s chopped (or shredded) into small items.
  • Marinara Sauce: Use a good-quality, flavorful sauce you’re keen on. I normally use Rao’s basic marinara (not working with the model, simply genuinely just like the sauce!).
ingredients in bowls.

Overview: The way to Make Garlic Hen Stuffed Shells

Cook dinner the jumbo shells till simply al dente, then set them apart.

Sauté the garlic in olive oil, add the spinach, and prepare dinner till wilted. Stir this into the ricotta together with the seasonings, egg, parmesan, and a part of the mozzarella. Fold within the chopped hen:

garlicky spinach and cheese mixture.

Spoon the filling into every shell, prepare them over a layer of marinara sauce, high with the remaining sauce and mozzarella, and bake till bubbly and evenly golden.

hands stuffing shells with cheesy spinach filling.

End with contemporary basil and additional parmesan for serving—easy and scrumptious!

stuffed shells with marinara, chicken, and spinach.
stuffed shells on plate with salad.

Serving & Storing

These stuffed shells pair splendidly with garlic bread or breadsticks and a easy inexperienced salad (I like this Italian dressing!). Leftovers maintain nicely within the fridge and reheat superbly, making this a terrific choice for meal prep or next-day lunches.

If you happen to’re craving a comfortable, comparatively easy dinner that delivers massive taste, this garlic hen stuffed shells recipe deserves a spot in your rotation! All of us actually cherished it.

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfb fb iconprint print iconsquares squares iconcoronary heart coronary heart iconcoronary heart strong coronary heart strong icon

Description

Full of garlicky ricotta, hen, and spinach, then baked in marinara sauce, that is a simple crowd-pleaser that works simply as nicely for busy weeknights because it does for informal entertaining.



  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (191°C). Calmly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or related measurement (about 3-quart) casserole dish. Put aside.
  2. Carry a big pot of salted water to a boil and add the jumbo shells. Boil the shells till simply al dente, about 9 minutes. Drain and rinse with chilly water. Lay the shells, open aspect up, on a baking sheet.
  3. Warmth olive oil in a big skillet over medium warmth. Sauté the garlic for 30 seconds, then add the spinach. Cook dinner, stirring, till the spinach wilts and cooks down, about 3 minutes. Take away from warmth.
  4. In a big bowl, combine collectively the ricotta cheese, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, egg, parmesan, and 1 cup (113g) of the mozzarella. Fold within the hen and garlic-spinach combination. 
  5. Pour about 2 cups (about 450g) of sauce into the ready baking dish to only cowl the underside.
  6. Spoon the filling evenly into the shells and prepare within the baking dish.
  7. Pour the remaining sauce over the stuffed shells. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
  8. Bake, uncovered, for 20–25 minutes. Serve with contemporary basil and additional parmesan, if desired.

Notes

  1. Make-Forward Directions: Assemble the stuffed shells within the baking dish, cowl tightly, and refrigerate for as much as 24 hours. When able to bake, let the dish sit at room temperature whereas the oven preheats, then bake as directed, including a number of additional minutes if wanted.
  2. Freezing Directions: Assemble every little thing however don’t bake but. Cowl tightly and freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge, then bake as directed. It’s also possible to bake straight from frozen—simply count on so as to add about 20 minutes to the bake time and maintain the dish lined for many of it.
  3. Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): 9×13-inch Baking Pan (or any related 3-quart baking dish) | Glass Mixing Bowl 
  4. Pasta Shells: You’ll want about 32 jumbo shells, which is round 8 ounces whole. I initially cooked a full 12-ounce field, however that was too many shells and we had 19 leftover as soon as every little thing was crammed. If you wish to keep away from extras, prepare dinner nearer to eight ounces, or depend out 32 shells earlier than boiling, and save the remainder of the field for an additional time.
  5. Can I Use Frozen Spinach? Sure. Thaw fully and squeeze out as a lot moisture as doable earlier than utilizing in step 3.
  6. Italian Seasoning: If you happen to don’t have Italian seasoning mix, you should utilize any mixture of Italian herbs that you just like, comparable to dried basil, oregano, and many others.
  7. Hen: Rotisserie hen breast is fast and handy, however any cooked hen works. Simply make certain it’s chopped or shredded into small items so it mixes evenly into the filling.
  8. Can I Skip the Hen? Sure, you may completely skip the hen. If desired, in step 3, you may sauté chopped mushrooms or pink peppers within the oil for a couple of minutes earlier than including the garlic and spinach.

Vitamin

  • Serving Dimension: 4 shells
  • Energy: 315
  • Sugar: 2.2 g
  • Sodium: 513.8 mg
  • Fats: 11.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 26.3 g
  • Protein: 25.7 g
  • Ldl cholesterol: 77.6 mg

RELATED ARTICLES

Good No-Unfold Sugar Cookies

Dump Week

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular

Recent Comments

 - 
Arabic
 - 
ar
Bengali
 - 
bn
German
 - 
de
English
 - 
en
French
 - 
fr
Hindi
 - 
hi
Indonesian
 - 
id
Portuguese
 - 
pt
Russian
 - 
ru
Spanish
 - 
es