When I first started Mom’s Dinner I got asked to come make dinner for the guests staying at Ronald McDonald House in Kansas City. I was happy to go and volunteer and make a dinner. I chose this Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells. It was perfect!! I served it with Caesar salad and garlic bread. Everyone loved it and came back for seconds. Everyone loves it in my house too! It is a great meatless dinner.
Large pasta shells are stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella, garlic and spinach. Then baked with marinara sauce and additional cheese. The leftovers also make a delicious lunch!ย If you have any vegetarians at your dinner table this is a perfect recipe.
Made this, it was excellent!!! My family is going to be looking for this again. –Carla
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Ingredients
Large Pasta Shells – you will need about 20 jumbo pasta shells. The ones that are large enough to stuff. Cook them to al dente in salted boiling water.
Whole Milk Ricotta – using the whole milk ricotta will give you the creamiest filling for the pasta shells.
Frozen Chopped Spinach – make sure to thaw and completely drain/squeeze the liquid from the spinach before adding it to the ricotta and cheese mixture.
Garlic – fresh minced garlic bumps up the flavor in the spinach ricotta filling.
Marinara – just use your family’s favorite jarred marinara. We love Rao’s!
Shredded Mozzarella and Parmesan – a perfect cheese duo to make the inside of the shells nice and cheesy, and tops the dish off when it bakes. Use fresh shredded mozzarella for the creamiest melt.
Egg – acts as a binder for the ricotta cheese, helps congeal it when it cooks so it doesn’t cook out of the shells.
Seasonings – a mix of garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil and oregano season the filling for these shells perfectly. Add a little red pepper flake for a kick of spice.
Tips for Draining Thawed Spinach
To thaw the frozen spinach warm it through in the microwave. You will want to drain and squeeze ALL the water out of the spinach. This stuff is like a sponge! You cannot skip this step or your recipe will be a big watery mess. There are 2 great ways to drain the water out of the thawed spinach
After you get all the water out of the spinach it will be in a big clump. You will want to break it up and sprinkle it into the cheese mixture.
- Put it in a fine mesh sieve and press it against the sides until you cannot get anymore water out.
- Wrap the thawed spinach in a clean kitchen towel and wring the water out of the spinach until it stops leaking out.
How to Make Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells
This recipe is relatively easy, but there are a few steps, so it is not a great recipe for a busy night. It is better reserved for the weekend or a day when you have a little extra time.ย
Step 1
Boil the pasta shells in salted water until al dente. Preheat the oven to 350ยฐF
Step 2
Measure the ricotta, half of the cheeses, egg, garlic and seasonings together.
Step 3
Completely thaw and squeeze the extra liquid from the spinach. Crumble into the filling.
Step 4
Stir the filling together completely and it’s time to assemble the shells.
Step 5
Pour about ยฝ the marinara on the bottom of the baking pan. Stuff the shells to the top with the ricotta and spinach mixture. Set them open side up in the pan.
Step 6
Pour remaining marinara over top, top with remaining cheeses, bake with foil for 45 mins, remove foil and bake another 5 mins.
Stuffed Shells Made Ahead
You can make stuffed shells ahead for easier dinner prep. Prepare the entire dish and cover with foil. Refrigerate up to 2 days and then continue with baking instructions when you are ready to eat!
Ricotta & Spinach Stuffed Shells for Dinner
We love to have these stuffed shells with a Caesar salad and garlic bread. Thatโs it. Simple & easy.
More Great Baked Pasta Recipes
Stuffed Shells with Ricotta and Spinach
Ingredients
- 8 oz jumbo pasta shells - about 20 shells, boiled to al dente per package instructions
- 24 oz jar marinara
- 1 egg
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese - divided
- 1 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese - divided
- 6 oz frozen chopped spinach - thawed and drained of liquid – see note below
- 2 garlic cloves - minced
- ยฝ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ยฝ teaspoon kosher salt
- ยผ teaspoon red pepper flakes - more if you like it spicy
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350
- Boil the jumbo shells according to package directions for al dente (should be about 7 minutes). They will continue to cook in the oven, so don't over cook while boiling.8 oz jumbo pasta shells
- While the shells cook, make the ricotta & spinach filling. In a large bowl beat egg, add the ricotta, 1 ยฝ cups mozzarella, ยฝ cup parmesan, garlic, garlic powder, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper flakes. Stir to combine.1 egg, 15 oz ricotta cheese, ยฝ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ยฝ teaspoon kosher salt, ยผ teaspoon red pepper flakes, 2 garlic cloves
- Using your hands or a clean kitchen towel squeeze the liquid out of the thawed spinach, see note below. Do not skip this step or your recipe will be a watery mess. Crumble the drained spinach into the cheese mixture. Stir to combine, making sure the spinach is incorporated throughout the filling. Set aside.6 oz frozen chopped spinach
- In a 9×13 pan spread half the marinara evenly over the bottom.
- Using a spoon fill the boiled and cooled pasta shells to the top with the ricotta mixture. Lay them in rows, open side up, on top of the marinara in the 9×13 pan.
- Pour the remaining marinara over top of the shells. Sprinkle with the remaining ยฝ cup parmesan and ยฝ cup mozzarella.
- Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Recipe Tips and Notes:
- Put the thawed spinach in a fine mesh sieve and press it against the sides until you cannot get anymore water out.
- Wrap the thawed spinach in a clean kitchen towel and wring the water out of the spinach until the water stops leaking out.
Carla says
Made this Susie, it was excellent!!! My family is going to be looking for this again.
Susie Weinrich says
Oh I’m so glad everyone liked them. Love seeing you one here ๐ค