Oven-Baked Cheesy Stuffed Shells with Tomato Basil Sauce

Ingredients

- 20 jumbo pasta shells
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 cups tomato basil sauce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and allow it to preheat for about 10 minutes.

2. Cook the Pasta Shells: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook 20 jumbo pasta shells for about 8 minutes or until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Place the shells on a towel to dry slightly.

3. Prepare the Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Mix until smooth and well combined.

4. Fill the Shells: Using a spoon, carefully stuff each of the pasta shells with the ricotta mixture. Be generous but ensure the filling doesn't overflow.

5. Assemble the Dish: Grease an oven-safe baking dish with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Spread 1 cup of tomato basil sauce across the bottom. Arrange the stuffed shells in the dish with the open side facing upwards.

6. Top with Sauce and Cheese: Pour the remaining 1 cup of tomato basil sauce over the shells, ensuring they are well covered. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top, followed by 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.

7. Bake the Dish: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly with a slight golden brown color.

8. Serve: Let the shells cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with additional chopped parsley if desired.

Preparation Time

- PT15M
15 minutes

Cooking Time

- PT30M
30 minutes

Total Time

- PT45M
45 minutes

Type of Dish

- Dinner

Keywords

- Stuffed shells
- Ricotta
- Mozzarella
- Parmesan
- Tomato basil sauce
- Oven-baked
- Cheesy pasta
- Italian dinner
- Vegetarian dinner
- Comfort food

Recipe Yield

- Serves 4 adults

Calories

- Total: 3200 calories

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