Creamy spinach and ricotta stuffed shells which are excellent for make-ahead meals or freezer cooking.
Over time, this spinach and ricotta stuffed shells recipe has develop into a type of reliable, go-to meals I come again to repeatedly. It’s the sort of comforting pasta dish that feels particular sufficient to share however sensible sufficient to make on a daily weeknight — particularly when cooking as soon as and consuming a number of instances feels like a dream.
These days, I’ve been leaning laborious into meals that pull double (or triple) responsibility. Whether or not it’s stocking the freezer for busy weeks, bringing dinner to a pal, or just ensuring there’s one thing hearty and do-it-yourself 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 value 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 laborious 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 hassle concerned. Additionally, these are a wonderful option to freeze in particular person warmth and eat parts. For this I exploit 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, contemporary garlic, and spinach. I want utilizing contemporary 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.
Recent garlic and basil actually make the flavors pop right here. I extremely suggest contemporary basil if yow will discover it, however dried will nonetheless offer you a scrumptious end result. And positively cook dinner a couple of additional shells — I promise some will break within the boiling course of.
As soon as all the things 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 in order that they’re simple to fill with out falling aside.
Boil shells till simply al dente
Cook 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 gained’t flip mushy after baking.
Drain and funky fastidiously
Drain the shells and unfold them out on a baking sheet in order 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 contemporary from the fridge or straight from the freezer.
Standard oven
Place shells in a 9×13 baking dish, add additional sauce if wanted, and canopy with aluminum foil. Reheat at 350°F till warmed by (about 25–half-hour from the fridge).
From frozen
Bake frozen shells lined with aluminum foil at 375°F for 50–60 minutes, then uncover for the final 10 minutes to flippantly brown the highest.
Microwave (particular person parts)
For a fast possibility, microwave particular person servings lined 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 steadiness the creamy ricotta filling with out including numerous additional work.
Garlic bread
Garlic bread is a basic pairing with stuffed pasta shells for good cause. The crisp exterior and buttery, garlicky taste are excellent for absorbing additional sauce left on the plate. Whether or not you go together with a do-it-yourself loaf, garlic knots, or a easy store-bought possibility brushed with olive oil and garlic, it’s a simple win that everybody loves.
Easy inexperienced salad
A easy inexperienced salad helps minimize by the richness of the ricotta mozzarella parmesan filling. Assume blended greens or romaine with a light-weight French dressing, sliced cucumbers, or a handful of cherry tomatoes. Protecting the salad contemporary and flippantly dressed provides a vivid distinction to the baked pasta dish with out competing with the principle flavors.
Roasted greens
Roasted greens are one other nice possibility and could be prepped whereas the shells bake. Broccoli, zucchini, asparagus, and even roasted carrots pair nicely with spinach and ricotta stuffed shells. Toss greens with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roast till tender and flippantly caramelized for a nutritious, hands-off aspect that rounds out the meal properly.
Further Cooking Ideas for Stuffed Shell Success
- Use a piping bag or zip-top bag to fill shells quicker and extra neatly.
- If utilizing frozen spinach, squeeze out as a lot liquid as doable to keep away from watery filling.
- Calmly grease your 9×13 baking dish earlier than assembling to stop sticking.
- Label freezer meals with baking instructions so there’s no guesswork later.
In case you plan on freezing a batch (or three), wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then cowl with aluminum foil. I all the time label with reheating directions so future me could be very grateful.
I liked with the ability to convey this meal to a pal, get pleasure from one ourselves, and have one other tucked away within the freezer. It’s completely definitely worth the effort and time for do-it-yourself consolation meals — particularly throughout busy seasons of life.
Spinach & Ricotta Stuffed Shells (Bulk Recipe for Freezing)
Prep Time: 50 minutes
Cook dinner Time: 40 minutes
Whole Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: 12 (4 individuals per dish) 1x
Description
These stuffed shells style so contemporary. They’re an ideal consolation meals dish that makes 3 pans stuffed 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 Recent 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 Recent Basil
- 3 tsp Salt
- 1.5 tsp Pepper
- 8 c Marinara Sauce
Directions
- Cook dinner shells in keeping with bundle instructions; rinse beneath 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 nicely. 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 evening, then comply with common baking instructions (beneath).
- If cooking instantly: Preheat oven to 375 levels. Bake lined with tinfoil for 25 minutes, then uncover and bake an extra quarter-hour.
May also be made into lasagna roll-ups, just like the above image, for a quicker prep time!
Lasagna Roll-Up Variation
This recipe may also be made into lasagna roll-ups for a barely quicker 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 revel in the identical comforting flavors in an easier-to-assemble format.
