Embark on a culinary journey with our delectable Spinach Stuffed Shells with White Sauce, a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. This classic Italian dish features tender jumbo pasta shells generously filled with a luscious spinach and ricotta filling, enveloped in a creamy and flavorful white sauce. The harmonious blend of textures and flavors creates an unforgettable dining experience.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll provide you with step-by-step instructions to prepare this delightful dish, along with additional variations to cater to your preferences. Indulge in the classic Spinach Stuffed Shells with White Sauce, or explore exciting variations like the hearty Sausage and Spinach Stuffed Shells, the vegetarian-friendly Roasted Vegetable Stuffed Shells, or the unique Sun-Dried Tomato and Pesto Stuffed Shells.
Each variation offers a distinct flavor profile, ensuring there's something for every palate. Whether you're a seasoned cook looking to expand your culinary repertoire or a novice seeking a taste of authentic Italian cuisine, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and techniques to create this beloved dish. So, prepare to tantalize your taste buds and embark on a culinary adventure with our Spinach Stuffed Shells with White Sauce and its enticing variations.
SHELLS WITH CRISPY PANCETTA AND SPINACH
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories main-dish
Time 50m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- For the shells:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta.
- Warm the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and cook until lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Remove the pancetta from the pan with a slotted spoon and transfer to a large bowl. Add the spinach, ricotta cheese, asiago cheese, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir to combine. Stuff the shells with about 2 tablespoons of the spinach mixture each and place the stuffed shells in a large, buttered baking dish.
- For the sauce:
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the cream and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat to very low and add the 2 cups asiago cheese, parsley, and pepper. Stir until the cheese is dissolved. Pour the sauce over the shells. Top with the remaining 1/4 cup asiago cheese. Bake until golden on top, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
SPINACH AND ARTICHOKE STUFFED SHELLS
Imagine if your favorite spinach and artichoke dip dove inside some super creamy pasta shells, which then were topped with crunchy breadcrumbs reminiscent of crostini. The result? Cheesy, gooey heaven.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 1h10m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Mix together the spinach, artichokes, ricotta, 4 ounces cream cheese, 1/3 cup Parmesan, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk together the half-and-half, mozzarella, remaining 4 ounces cream cheese, remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium microwave-safe bowl until smooth and combined. Heat in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until warm and smooth, about 2 minutes.
- Spread 1/2 cup cheese sauce on the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Stuff a heaping tablespoon of the spinach mixture into each shell and arrange them in the baking dish seam-side up. Pour the remaining cheese sauce over the shells, cover with foil and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling, 13 to 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix the olive oil, breadcrumbs and parsley, if using, in a small bowl until well combined. Remove the foil from the baking dish and sprinkle the mixture over the shells. Bake until the breadcrumbs are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly, about 10 minutes.
SPINACH ALFREDO STUFFED PASTA SHELLS
This is my spinach casserole doubled for stuffing shells. The Alfredo tastes great mixed with it! I am guessing on the servings because you may lose some shells from breaking while cooking. The remaining mixture freezes well before baking. BTW, we usually add a little more garlic powder for our taste.
Provided by Kikimony
Categories Pasta Shells
Time 40m
Yield 24 shells, 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in skillet.
- Cut turkey bacon in half lengthwise, then start snipping every 1/2".
- Add onion, bacon, garlic powder and blackened redfish seasoning to oil.
- Cook until onion is tender (4 minutes).
- Add spinach and mix well.
- Remove from heat.
- Add bread crumbs and cheese and mix very well.
- Add as much Alfredo as you like to the mixture (reserve some for topping).
- Stuff Pasta shells and place in greased 9x13 pan.
- After all stuffed, drizzle remaining Alfredo over shells.
- Bake at 350 degrees until heated through.
- (The remaining mixture can be frozen before baking).
ARTICHOKE AND SPINACH STUFFED SHELLS
I love cooking with leftovers, and this artichoke and spinach stuffed shells recipe is a perfect example of why. There's something very satisfying about turning a dish of tired leftovers into a vibrant new creation.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Side Dish
Time 45m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Combine spinach artichoke dip and ricotta cheese in a bowl. Stir in egg, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper; mix until well-combined. Set aside.
- Bring white sauce to a simmer over medium-low heat. Stir in grated Gruyere cheese until cheese is melted and incorporated into sauce, 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside.
- Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a boil. Stir in shells and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, but still firm to the bite, about 11 minutes; drain. Set aside.
- Pour half the white sauce mixture into the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole dish; spread evenly.
- Stuff pasta shells with the spinach artichoke mixture and place in casserole dish atop the white sauce, stuffed-side up.
- Pour remaining white sauce over the tops of the shells and sprinkle with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and bubbling, about 25 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 660 calories, Carbohydrate 54 g, Cholesterol 100 mg, Fat 40.5 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 22.1 g, SaturatedFat 15.4 g, Sodium 1194 mg, Sugar 2.3 g
SPINACH STUFFED SHELLS WITH A MUSHROOM SAUCE
Watch these disappear! The shells are cooked al dente stuffed with creamy cheese and tender baby spinach topped with a tomato mushroom sauce then cooked in the oven where they plump up. And have you wanting more.
Provided by Rita1652
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h20m
Yield 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray a 9x13 inch pan with nonstick spray.
- Soak mushrooms in hot water.
- In a large saute pan, pour oil saute onions and garlic 1 minute add spinach cook till wilted.
- Remove spinach from pan leaving some garlic and onions in pan.
- Chop the soaked mushrooms (stems discarded) and add to pan with the remaining onions and garlic.
- Add the mushroom soaking water(strained from any grit), white wine and herbs.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook till liquid is all absorbed.
- Add crushed tomatoes.
- Simmer while preparing shells.
- Squeeze liquid from cooled spinach and place juice into sauce and spinach into a bowl with cheeses, egg, nutmeg.
- Mix to blend.
- Adding salt and pepper to taste.
- Spoon evenly into shells and place into pan.
- Pour sauce over shells.
- Reserving some sauce for serving at the table.
- Bake covered for 30 minutes.
- Garnish with grated cheese.
- Mangia!
CHICKEN- AND SPINACH-STUFFED SHELLS
Enjoy these cheesy pasta shells stuffed with chicken and spinach - perfect for Italian dinner.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 1h10m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350°F. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Rinse with cool water; drain.
- Meanwhile, in medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, spinach and chicken.
- Spread 1 cup of the pasta sauce in bottom of 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Spoon about 2 tablespoons ricotta mixture into each pasta shell. Arrange shells, filled sides up, on sauce in baking dish. Spoon remaining sauce over stuffed shells.
- Cover dish with foil; bake 30 minutes. Sprinkle with Italian cheese blend. Bake uncovered 5 to 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 570, Carbohydrate 48 g, Cholesterol 120 mg, Fat 2, Fiber 4 g, Protein 33 g, SaturatedFat 15 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 1330 mg, Sugar 12 g, TransFat 1/2 g
SPINACH STUFFED SHELLS WITH WHITE SAUCE
Here's a creamy and delicious, vegetarian main dish from Debbie Herbert in Seymour, Indiana. It's easy to assemble and looks like you really fussed. Serve with a leafy salad, crusty garlic bread and thirst-quenching iced tea.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Yield 5 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, prepare white sauce according to package directions; set aside., Preheat oven to 375°. In a small bowl, combine cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, egg white, basil, garlic powder, pepper and half of the spinach (save remaining spinach for another use). Pour half of the white sauce into a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. , Drain pasta and rinse in cold water; stuff each shell with 2 tablespoons spinach mixture. Arrange over sauce. Top with remaining white sauce. , Cover and bake 25 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 302 calories, Fat 11g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 27mg cholesterol, Sodium 646mg sodium, Carbohydrate 35g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 18g protein.
Tips:
- Use fresh spinach for the best flavor. If you don't have fresh spinach, you can use frozen spinach, but be sure to thaw and squeeze out all the excess water before using.
- Don't overcook the shells. They should be cooked al dente, or slightly firm to the bite.
- Make sure the white sauce is thick enough. It should coat the back of a spoon and not be too runny.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different fillings. You can use other greens, such as kale or Swiss chard, or add some cooked vegetables, such as mushrooms or zucchini.
- Serve the shells immediately after baking. They are best when they are hot and bubbly.
Conclusion:
Spinach stuffed shells with white sauce is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner. It is also a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables. With a few simple tips, you can make this dish at home with ease.
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