Oven-Baked Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Shells

Ingredients

- 1 package (12 oz) jumbo pasta shells
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups fresh spinach leaves, chopped
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus extra for topping
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Instructions

1. Prepare the Jumbo Shells:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the jumbo pasta shells in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside to cool slightly.
Time: PT10M
10 minutes

2. Sauté Spinach:
- In a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and garlic. Sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add chopped spinach and cook until wilted, approximately 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.
Time: PT5M
5 minutes

3. Prepare the Filling:
- In a large bowl, combine sautéed spinach, ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and egg.
- Season with salt and pepper. Mix well.

4. Stuff the Shells:
- Spread 1/2 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Fill each cooked shell with about 2 tablespoons of the spinach and cheese mixture, and place in the baking dish.

5. Assemble the Dish:
- Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the stuffed shells.
- Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and a bit of grated parmesan cheese.
- Sprinkle Italian seasoning over the cheese for added flavor.

6. Bake:
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
Total Baking Time: PT30M
30 minutes

Total Time

PT45M
45 minutes

Type of Dish

Lunch

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total Calories: 1,870

Keywords

Spinach stuffed shells, baked pasta, vegetarian lunch, cheese filling, Italian lunch, easy lunch recipe, oven-baked pasta, spinach ricotta shells, family lunch, comforting pasta dish

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