Stuffed Shells is a classic Italian-American dish made with jumbo pasta shells stuffed with a mixture of ricotta, mozzarella cheese, and spinach, and then baked in marinara sauce. This dish is perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner or a special occasion. It can be garnished with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. The shells can be filled with various ingredients such as ground meat, vegetables or different types of cheese, making it versatile and customizable.
INGREDIENTS:
- umbo pasta shells
- marinara sauce – feel free to use homemade marinara sauce or store-bought. You can also substitute with pasta sauce.
- cheese – you will need 3 types of cheese — ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan.
- egg
- parsley
- salt and pepper
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Cook the shells. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add pasta jumbo shells and cook until al dente (fully cooked but still firm) according to package directions, about 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the pot. Drain and rinse the jumbo shells under cold water to cool off completely and set aside in the pot.
2. Make cheese mixture. In a medium mixing bowl, combine all three kinds of cheese, egg, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix well until smooth.
Stuff the shells and assemble. Use a cookie scoop to stuff each cooked pasta shell with approximately ⅓ cup of the cheese mixture. In an 8-inch square casserole pan, add and spread marinara sauce evenly. Place the stuffed shells on top and sprinkle with a layer of mozzarella cheese.
4. Bake. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in a 375F preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and broil until the cheese turns golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve warm.
