Cheesy Spinach Shells (Printable Version)
Jumbo shells loaded with spinach and cheesy goodness, baked in marinara for the ultimate Italian comfort meal.
# Ingredients:
→ Pasta & Sauce
01 -
2 cups of marinara sauce
02 -
12 large pasta shells
→ Cheese Filling
03 -
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, plus a bit more for sprinkling on top
04 -
1 large egg
05 -
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
06 -
1 ½ cups of ricotta cheese
→ Vegetables & Seasonings
07 -
2 minced garlic cloves
08 -
Chopped fresh spinach, 1 cup (or ½ cup thawed frozen spinach, drained)
09 -
A pinch of nutmeg, if you'd like
10 -
Fresh parsley or basil, to garnish
11 -
Salt and black pepper, as needed
12 -
1 tablespoon of olive oil
# Steps:
01 -
Start by getting your oven ready at 375°F (190°C). Use fresh spinach by rinsing and chopping, or if it's frozen, let it thaw and squeeze out extra liquid.
02 -
Cook the big pasta shells in some salty water until they're just tender. Drain the water and put them aside.
03 -
In a pan, warm up olive oil and stir in the garlic until it smells amazing. Toss in the spinach and cook till it wilts. Add a little salt and pepper to taste.
04 -
In a bowl, mix together the cooked spinach mix, ricotta, shredded mozzarella, grated parmesan, egg, and nutmeg until it's all blended.
05 -
Pour some marinara sauce into a baking dish. Fill the shells with the cheese mixture and arrange them seam side up in the dish. Top with the remaining sauce and sprinkle a bit of mozzarella.
06 -
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. After that, remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes till the cheese is golden and bubbly. Sprinkle with fresh herbs before serving.
# Notes:
01 -
Add a dash of red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
02 -
Sprinkle on more cheese during the last 10 baking minutes if you’re a cheese lover.
03 -
Goes great served alongside garlic bread or a fresh green salad.