These stuffed shells are filled with ricotta cheese, spinach, and herbs. It’s all tucked into jumbo pasta shells and baked with marinara and more cheese. This stuffed shells recipe is easy, cheesy comfort food.
Savory Stuffed Shells
Stuffed shell recipes are meatless, filling, and flavorful. Three cheese stuffed shells are easy but impressive to make or to gift since everyone loves a hearty and comforting casserole. Prepare it ahead of time and pop it in the oven after a busy day, so easy. Perfect as a vegetarian meal but carnivores love this recipe too!
Recipe Variations
Add cooked ground Italian sausage, ground beef, ground turkey, or diced chicken into the filling mix. Up your veggie intake with diced bell peppers, finely chopped cooked broccoli, shredded cooked zucchini, mushrooms, or shredded carrots. Stir in some chopped shrimp or crab meat or other favorite cooked seafood. Swap the seasoning for Italian seasoning or add in a few red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to heat things up.
How to Make Stuffed Shells
Add in a side of garlic bread and a tossed salad for a delicious meal!
Make-Ahead Meal & Leftovers
Prep Ahead: Assemble this stuffed shells recipe and pop it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. If it’s chilled from the fridge, you may need to add 10 minutes of extra cooking time. Freezer-Friendly: When freezing unbaked stuffed shells, follow the recipe but hold off on that cheese topping. Make sure the filling is cool. Then, wrap your dish tightly first with plastic wrap, then foil. It will be good in the freezer for up to a month. To serve, thaw the casserole overnight in the fridge before baking. Add 15 minutes to the cooking time. Leftovers: Store leftover stuffed shells up to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave or the oven for 15-20 minutes at 350°F.
More Make Ahead Favorites
Extra Shells: Cook a few more pasta shells than you need, as some might break during boiling or stuffing. Al Dente Pasta: Don’t overcook the shells (rinse under cold water to stop cooking). They should be cooked al dente (firm) as they’ll continue to bake in the oven. Sauce on Bottom: Spread marinara sauce in the baking dish before placing the stuffed shells to prevent sticking. Easy Filling: A piping bag or a zip-top bag with a corner snipped off makes filling the shells a breeze.
Here are a few more make ahead favorites:
white chicken lasagna baked spaghetti chicken spaghetti bake homemade lasagna
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