Indulge in a culinary adventure with Cara's Creamy Stuffed Shells, a delectable symphony of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds. Dive into a world of culinary bliss as you explore our curated collection of stuffed shell recipes, each offering a unique twist on this classic Italian dish. From the classic combination of ricotta, spinach, and Parmesan to innovative fillings featuring butternut squash, sun-dried tomatoes, and zesty pesto, our recipes cater to every palate. Embark on a journey of culinary discovery as you uncover the secrets of crafting the perfect stuffed shell, ensuring a delightful and memorable dining experience.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
THE BEST STUFFED SHELLS
Here's our upgrade on the Italian-American comfort food classic. We used three different cheeses to get the ultra-creamy filling just right. It really balances the tangy homemade tomato sauce.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 2h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- For the marinara sauce: Heat the oil in a medium heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, if using, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic has softened but not browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat, add the basil and dried oregano, partially cover and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened, about 45 minutes.
- Remove the basil sprig. If the sauce is still too chunky, mash the larger chunks of tomato with a potato masher. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool.
- For the shells and filling: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the dried pasta shells cook, stirring occasionally, until softened slightly but not cooked. (The pasta shells should flexible enough to be filled but remain very al dente; they will continue to cook during baking.) Drain, then run under cold water to stop cooking. Drain well again.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Mix together the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, parsley and egg in a large bowl until well combined and uniform. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Transfer the filling to a large disposable pastry bag or large resealable plastic bag (or use a spoon for filling directly from the bowl).
- Spread 2 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Snip off the end of the pastry bag and squeeze the filling into the shells one at a time. Arrange the shells open-side up in a tight single layer in the baking dish as you fill them. Top with the remaining marinara sauce. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake the shells until the sauce is bubbling throughout and the filling is heated through, about 35 minutes.
- Remove the foil from the pan and continue to bake for 10 more minutes to reduce the sauce. Let cool slightly before serving. Top with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
CARA'S CREAMY STUFFED SHELLS
This is a unique perspective to boring ground-beef stuffed shells. You and everyone will love the taste of the meat and everyone will want to know your secret!
Provided by CARAMIA15
Categories Italian Recipes
Time 50m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Place shell pasta in the pot, cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until al dente, and drain.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking dish.
- Place the beef in a skillet over medium heat, and mix in eggs, oil, garlic, garlic salt, and parsley. Cook until beef is evenly brown. Transfer to a large bowl, and mix with cream cheese and 1 cup pasta sauce.
- Stuff the cooked pasta shells with the beef mixture, and arrange in the prepared baking dish. Cover evenly with the remaining sauce.
- Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until bubbly. Sprinkle with Romano cheese just before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 697.7 calories, Carbohydrate 43 g, Cholesterol 189.9 mg, Fat 39 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 41.4 g, SaturatedFat 16.8 g, Sodium 1045.1 mg, Sugar 7.8 g
CREAMY SEAFOOD-STUFFED SHELLS
Inspired by my love of lasagna, pasta shells and seafood, I created this recipe that's easy to make but special enough to serve company. I serve it with garlic bread and a salad. -Katie P. Sloan, Charlotte, North Carolina
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h10m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. , Meanwhile, in a small skillet, saute green pepper and onion in 1 teaspoon butter until tender; set aside., In a large bowl, combine crab, shrimp, egg, mozzarella cheese, mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons milk, 1 teaspoon seafood seasoning, pepper and green pepper mixture., Preheat oven to 350°. Drain and rinse pasta; stuff each shell with 1 rounded tablespoon of seafood mixture. Place in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. , In a small saucepan, melt remaining butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and coarsely ground pepper; gradually whisk in remaining milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in Parmesan cheese., Pour over stuffed shells. Sprinkle with remaining seafood seasoning. Bake, uncovered, 30-35 minutes or until bubbly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 448 calories, Fat 23g fat (11g saturated fat), Cholesterol 148mg cholesterol, Sodium 710mg sodium, Carbohydrate 31g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 29g protein.
STUFFED SHELLS III
This recipe is a hit wherever you go. It is a very rich and cheesy meal and looks like a deep-dish pizza when done. I altered what I was originally given because I did not like cottage cheese and added other ingredients that I thought it deserved.
Provided by Renee
Categories Main Dish Recipes Stuffed Main Dish Recipes
Time 1h30m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
- In a large bowl, mix eggs, ricotta, half the mozzarella, half the Parmesan, parsley, salt and pepper until well combined. Stuff cooked shells with ricotta mixture and place in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, stir together pasta sauce, mushrooms and reserved mozzarella and Parmesan. Pour over stuffed shells.
- Bake in preheated oven 45 to 60 minutes, until edges are bubbly and shells are slightly set.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 549.7 calories, Carbohydrate 43.7 g, Cholesterol 115.6 mg, Fat 24.5 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 37.7 g, SaturatedFat 13.9 g, Sodium 1544.2 mg, Sugar 9.3 g
Tips:
- Soak the shells before stuffing: This will help them cook evenly and prevent them from cracking.
- Use a variety of cheeses: A blend of cheeses, such as ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella, will give your stuffed shells a rich and flavorful filling.
- Don't overstuff the shells: Overstuffed shells can be difficult to eat and may fall apart.
- Bake the shells until they are golden brown: This will ensure that they are cooked through and have a crispy exterior.
- Serve the shells with your favorite sauce: A simple tomato sauce or a creamy Alfredo sauce are both delicious options.
Conclusion:
Cara's Creamy Stuffed Shells are a delicious and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for any occasion. With a creamy ricotta and Parmesan cheese filling, these shells are sure to be a hit with your family and friends. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy dinner, give Cara's Creamy Stuffed Shells a try!
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