Creamy spinach and ricotta stuffed shells which can be excellent for make-ahead meals or freezer cooking.
Through the years, this spinach and ricotta stuffed shells recipe has turn into a kind of reliable, go-to meals I come again to many times. It’s the form of comforting pasta dish that feels particular sufficient to share however sensible sufficient to make on an everyday weeknight — particularly when cooking as soon as and consuming a number of occasions seems like a dream.
Recently, I’ve been leaning exhausting into meals that pull double (or triple) responsibility. Whether or not it’s stocking the freezer for busy weeks, bringing dinner to a buddy, or just ensuring there’s one thing hearty and home made able to go, bulk recipes like this one make life simpler. Fewer nights scrambling within the kitchen, extra nights really sitting down collectively.
Stuffed pasta shells are a bit extra hands-on than your common dinner, however the payoff is price it. This recipe makes a number of pans, freezes fantastically, and reheats like a dream — which suggests the time you spend assembling it as soon as saves you a lot time later. It’s consolation meals that works as exhausting as you do.
Spinach & Ricotta Stuffed Shells
I like stuffed shells (what’s to not love?), however they do take a while to make. That stated, this pasta dish is reassuring, scrumptious, and makes three full pans of jumbo pasta shells. I gave one away, ate one, and nonetheless had one left for the freezer — which appears like the final word payoff for the trouble concerned. Additionally, these are a superb option to freeze in particular person warmth and eat parts. For this I take advantage of Two Cup Souber Cubes (I additionally use their stoneware to reheat simply within the oven).
These stuffed pasta shells are full of a creamy ricotta combination made with ricotta mozzarella parmesan, recent garlic, and spinach. I want utilizing recent spinach as a result of I can by no means fairly get all of the moisture out of frozen spinach, however each will work in a pinch. Simply know that spinach cooks down rapidly, so that you’ll wish to watch it intently to maintain it from getting too mushy.
Contemporary garlic and basil actually make the flavors pop right here. I extremely suggest recent basil if you will discover it, however dried will nonetheless offer you a scrumptious outcome. And undoubtedly cook dinner a number of further shells — I promise some will break within the boiling course of.
As soon as every part is prepped, activate some music and benefit from the oddly therapeutic strategy of filling the shells.
How Lengthy To Boil Shell Pasta?
When making jumbo pasta shells, timing issues so that they’re simple to fill with out falling aside.
Boil shells till simply al dente
Prepare dinner shells in generously salted water and cease cooking 1–2 minutes sooner than the bundle instructions. Al dente shells maintain their form higher and received’t flip mushy after baking.
Drain and funky rigorously
Drain the shells and unfold them out on a baking sheet so that they don’t stick collectively. Letting them cool barely makes them simpler to deal with whereas stuffing.
How To Reheat Stuffed Shells In Oven
Stuffed shells reheat fantastically, whether or not recent from the fridge or straight from the freezer.
Typical oven
Place shells in a 9×13 baking dish, add further sauce if wanted, and canopy with aluminum foil. Reheat at 350°F till warmed by means of (about 25–half-hour from the fridge).
From frozen
Bake frozen shells coated with aluminum foil at 375°F for 50–60 minutes, then uncover for the final 10 minutes to calmly brown the highest.
Microwave (particular person parts)
For a fast choice, microwave particular person servings coated with a humid paper towel to stop drying out.
What To Serve With Stuffed Shells
This hearty pasta dish is wealthy, comforting, and filling by itself, so the most effective sides are easy ones that stability the creamy ricotta filling with out including loads of further work.
Garlic bread
Garlic bread is a traditional pairing with stuffed pasta shells for good cause. The crisp exterior and buttery, garlicky taste are excellent for absorbing further sauce left on the plate. Whether or not you go together with a home made loaf, garlic knots, or a easy store-bought choice brushed with olive oil and garlic, it’s a simple win that everybody loves.
Easy inexperienced salad
A easy inexperienced salad helps reduce by means of the richness of the ricotta mozzarella parmesan filling. Assume blended greens or romaine with a lightweight French dressing, sliced cucumbers, or a handful of cherry tomatoes. Conserving the salad recent and calmly dressed provides a shiny distinction to the baked pasta dish with out competing with the principle flavors.
Roasted greens
Roasted greens are one other nice choice and will be prepped whereas the shells bake. Broccoli, zucchini, asparagus, and even roasted carrots pair effectively with spinach and ricotta stuffed shells. Toss greens with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roast till tender and calmly caramelized for a nutritious, hands-off facet that rounds out the meal properly.
Additional Cooking Suggestions for Stuffed Shell Success
- Use a piping bag or zip-top bag to fill shells sooner and extra neatly.
- If utilizing frozen spinach, squeeze out as a lot liquid as potential to keep away from watery filling.
- Evenly grease your 9×13 baking dish earlier than assembling to stop sticking.
- Label freezer meals with baking instructions so there’s no guesswork later.
If you happen to plan on freezing a batch (or three), wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then cowl with aluminum foil. I at all times label with reheating directions so future me may be very grateful.
I cherished having the ability to carry this meal to a buddy, take pleasure in one ourselves, and have one other tucked away within the freezer. It’s completely well worth the effort and time for home made consolation meals — particularly throughout busy seasons of life.
Spinach & Ricotta Stuffed Shells (Bulk Recipe for Freezing)
Prep Time: 50 minutes
Prepare dinner Time: 40 minutes
Whole Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: 12 (4 folks per dish) 1x
Description
These stuffed shells style so recent. They’re an ideal consolation meals dish that makes 3 pans filled with shells, excellent for freezing or sharing.
- 2 (12 oz) Packing containers of Jumbo Shell Pasta
- 3 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 6 tsp Freshly Minced Garlic
- 12 c Contemporary Spinach, roughly chopped (about 10 ounces)
- 36 oz Half-Skim Ricotta Cheese
- 3 c Shredded Half-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
- 1.5 c Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 3 Eggs
- 3 Tbsp Contemporary Basil
- 3 tsp Salt
- 1.5 tsp Pepper
- 8 c Marinara Sauce
Directions
- Prepare dinner shells based on bundle instructions; rinse underneath chilly water, drain and pat dry.
- In the meantime, warmth oil in a big saucepan over medium warmth. Add garlic and cook dinner till aromatic, about 3-4 minutes.Add spinach and cook dinner till wilted, about 5 minutes.
- Coat three 9-by-13-inch baking dishes with cooking spray then unfold 2-2.5 cups of marinara alongside the underside of every baking dish.
- Mix spinach, cheeses, egg, basil and salt and pepper in a big bowl. Combine effectively. Stuff every shell with 1 heaping spoon of filling and organize stuffed shells in baking dish. Spoon any remaining sauce round shells the place wanted.
- If freezing: Cowl tightly with plastic wrap, then tinfoil. Clearly label and hold in freezer for as much as 3 months. Pull out of freezer and permit to defrost within the fridge over night time, then observe common baking instructions (beneath).
- If cooking instantly: Preheat oven to 375 levels. Bake coated with tinfoil for 25 minutes, then uncover and bake an extra quarter-hour.
Can be made into lasagna roll-ups, just like the above image, for a sooner prep time!
Lasagna Roll-Up Variation
This recipe can be made into lasagna roll-ups for a barely sooner prep time. Merely swap the jumbo pasta shells for cooked lasagna noodles, unfold the spinach and creamy ricotta filling evenly over every noodle, roll them up, and place seam-side down in your baking dish. Cowl with sauce, bake as directed, and luxuriate in the identical comforting flavors in an easier-to-assemble format.
