Indulge in a symphony of flavors with our delectable stuffed shells, a culinary masterpiece that seamlessly blends rich textures and tantalizing tastes. Picture tender jumbo pasta shells, lovingly filled with a luscious mixture of ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses, perfectly complemented by a savory blend of herbs and spices. Bathed in a velvety marinara sauce, these stuffed shells emerge from the oven as a symphony of flavors, offering a delightful dance of textures in every bite. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cooking enthusiast, our three carefully curated recipes will guide you through the process of creating this classic Italian dish, ensuring a perfect balance of flavors and textures that will leave your taste buds craving for more. From the classic Stuffed Shells with Marinara Sauce to the intriguing Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Shells and the hearty Sausage and Ricotta Stuffed Shells, each recipe promises a unique culinary experience that will tantalize your palate and leave you yearning for seconds.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
EASY STUFFED SHELLS
I threw this recipe together one day when we had unexpected guests. It was an immediate hit and is now a family favorite. Get the kids involved when putting together this simple, savory dish. -Dolores Betchner, Cudahy, Wisconsin
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°. Cook pasta shells according to package directions; drain and rinse in cold water., Spread 1/2 cup sauce into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Fill each shell with a meatball; place over sauce. Top with remaining sauce and the cheese., Bake, covered, 35 minutes. Uncover; bake until bubbly and cheese is melted, 3-5 minutes longer.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 334 calories, Fat 17g fat (8g saturated fat), Cholesterol 45mg cholesterol, Sodium 711mg sodium, Carbohydrate 30g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 16g protein.
CLASSIC STUFFED SHELLS
These stuffed shells are filled with three types of cheese, then covered in marinara sauce and more cheese and baked to golden brown perfection. A comfort food classic that's great for feeding a crowd!
Provided by Sara Welch
Categories Main
Time 55m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 9"x13" baking pan with cooking spray.
- Spread 1 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce in an even layer in the bottom of the pan.
- Place the ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese, Italian seasoning, egg, salt, pepper and parmesan cheese in a bowl. Stir to combine.
- Fill each shell with the ricotta mixture and place in the baking dish.
- Spoon the remaining marinara sauce over the shells, then sprinkle the other 1 1/2 cups of cheese over the top.
- Cover the dish with foil. Bake for 20 minutes. Uncover the pan, then bake for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and starting to brown.
- Sprinkle with parsley, then serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 488 kcal, Carbohydrate 35 g, Protein 30 g, Fat 26 g, SaturatedFat 15 g, Cholesterol 115 mg, Sodium 1193 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 7 g, ServingSize 1 serving
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.
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
QUICK AND EASY STUFFED SHELLS
You can easily double or triple this recipe, with only the 2 of us I make a smaller amount. You can also add the spices of your choice, more hamburger or none at all. I make this early in the morning or the night before so when I am ready to fix dinner I can just take it out of the refrigerator and pop it in the oven, serve with...
Provided by Gail Herbest
Categories Beef
Time 45m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- 1. Brown hamburger until no longer pink, drain off grease and add the jar of spaghetti sauce, mix well and set aside
- 2. boil 12 large pasta shells until Al Dente. drain and set aside
- 3. In med size mixing bowl mix cottage cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, minced onion and spices
- 4. Lightly spray 8x8 glass baking dish with non stick cooking spray, spoon 4 Tbsp of the hamburger spaghetti sauce into baking dish and spread around bottom.
- 5. spoon in each cooked shell approx 1 Tbsp of cottage cheese mixture and place in baking dish side by side until all are filled
- 6. spoon remaining spaghetti sauce/meat mixture over the top of shells and sprinkle with extra mozzarella cheese.
- 7. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for approx 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and filled shells are heated through Let set for 10 minutes and serve
- 8. If I have left over meat/sauce mixture I spoon it around the edges and add a little more to the top
SIMPLE STUFFED SHELLS
A make-ahead version of an Italian classic, these cooked pasta shells are stuffed with hearty beef, ricotta and mozzarella. Make a double batch and keep one in the freezer for a handy potluck dish.
Provided by By Paula Jones
Categories Entree
Time 1h30m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
- In 2-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add beef. Cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is thoroughly cooked. Stir in tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low; cook uncovered about 20 minutes until liquid is reduced.
- Meanwhile, cook and drain pasta shells as directed on box, using minimum cook time. Rinse with cold water to cool; drain.
- In medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, the egg and 2 tablespoons basil.
- Spoon about 2 cups meat sauce into baking dish. Using small spoon, carefully fill each pasta shell with about 2 tablespoons cheese mixture (do not overfill). Invert shells and place on sauce in baking dish. Spoon remaining meat sauce over shells. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
- Bake uncovered about 30 minutes until sauce is bubbly and cheese is melted. Garnish with additional basil.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 680, Carbohydrate 62 g, Cholesterol 125 mg, Fat 1 1/2, Fiber 4 g, Protein 43 g, SaturatedFat 13 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 870 mg, Sugar 6 g, TransFat 1 g
Tips:
- Use a large pot to boil the shells. This will ensure that the shells have enough room to cook evenly and prevent them from sticking together.
- Don't overcook the shells. Cook them until they are al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. Overcooked shells will be mushy.
- Use a variety of cheeses in the filling. This will give the filling a more complex flavor and texture. Some good options include ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and feta cheese.
- Add some vegetables to the filling. This will make the filling more nutritious and flavorful. Some good options include spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, and bell peppers.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different sauces. You can use a variety of sauces with stuffed shells, such as tomato sauce, Alfredo sauce, or pesto sauce.
Conclusion:
Stuffed shells are a delicious and versatile dish that can be made with a variety of ingredients. They are perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion. With a little planning, you can easily make stuffed shells that your family and friends will love.
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