Stuffed Shells with Ricotta Spinach (Printable)

Jumbo shells stuffed with ricotta and spinach, baked in tomato sauce

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 20 jumbo pasta shells
02 - Salt for boiling water

→ Filling

03 - 14 oz ricotta cheese
04 - 9 oz frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
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

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F.
02 - Cook jumbo pasta shells in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and arrange on a tray to prevent sticking.
03 - Combine ricotta, squeezed spinach, Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, nutmeg, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Mix until smooth and set aside.
04 - Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onion until soft, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add tomato passata, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer gently for 10-15 minutes.
05 - Spread half of the tomato sauce evenly across the bottom of a 13x9 inch baking dish.
06 - Fill each shell with 1.5-2 tablespoons of ricotta-spinach mixture and arrange in the baking dish.
07 - Spoon remaining tomato sauce over stuffed shells. Sprinkle mozzarella and remaining Parmesan cheese on top.
08 - Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
09 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese is bubbling and golden.
10 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The ricotta filling stays incredibly creamy thanks to properly drained spinach and just the right amount of egg to bind everything together
  • This is one of those rare make ahead dishes that actually tastes better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep or feeding a crowd
  • The combination of nutmeg in the filling and oregano in the sauce creates that authentic Italian flavor balance everyone craves
02 -
  • The most common mistake is overcooking the pasta initially, remember it will continue cooking in the sauce and you want them to hold their shape
  • Really squeeze that spinach until your hands hurt, any remaining water will make the filling separate and create a puddle at the bottom of your baking dish
  • Letting the dish rest for 5 minutes is not optional, it helps the filling set so each shell comes out of the pan neatly instead of falling apart
03 -
  • Use a piping bag or zip lock bag with the corner cut off to fill the shells quickly and cleanly, it is so much faster than using spoons
  • Place your baking dish on a sheet pan in the oven, it will catch any bubbling over and save you from scrubbing burnt sauce off the bottom of your oven
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