Indulge in a culinary journey with our delightful stuffed shells, a classic Italian dish that tantalizes taste buds with its harmonious blend of flavors and textures. This article presents a collection of carefully curated recipes, each offering a unique twist on this timeless dish. Discover the secrets of crafting the perfect pasta shells, stuffed with a delectable filling of ricotta, spinach, and Parmesan cheese. Explore variations that incorporate succulent shrimp, savory sausage, or tangy sun-dried tomatoes. Dive into the art of preparing a rich and flavorful marinara sauce, simmered to perfection with ripe tomatoes, herbs, and a hint of sweetness. Whether you prefer a classic rendition or seek a more adventurous culinary experience, our stuffed shells recipes will guide you through every step, ensuring a delicious and unforgettable meal.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
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 WITH MARINARA
Remember: If the shells are perfectly cooked in the first step, they'll be mushy and flabby after baking.
Categories Bon Appétit Dinner Pasta Ricotta Vegetarian Parmesan Mozzarella Cheese Tomato Bake
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook shells in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until very al dente; drain. Run under cold water to stop the cooking and drain again.
- Lightly whisk egg yolks and egg in a large bowl. Stir in ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, and 1 1/2 cups mozzarella; season with salt and pepper. Transfer filling to a large resealable plastic bag.
- Spread 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce in a 13x9" baking dish. Snip off 1 end of plastic bag and, working one at a time, squeeze filling into shells, arranging them in a single layer in baking dish as you go. Top with remaining 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce and remaining mozzarella. Cover pan tightly with foil and bake shells until sauce is bubbling throughout, 35-40 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes.
- Carefully move rack to top of oven and heat broiler. Uncover pasta and broil until lightly browned on top, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with oregano and more Parmesan and drizzle with oil.
- Do Ahead
- Pasta can be baked 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Reheat, covered, at 375°F.
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:
- For a richer flavor, use homemade marinara sauce. You can find a recipe for marinara sauce in the article linked above.
- If you don't have any ricotta cheese, you can substitute cottage cheese. Just be sure to drain the cottage cheese well before using it.
- To make the shells easier to stuff, boil them for a few minutes before filling them.
- Don't overstuff the shells, or they will be difficult to close.
- Bake the shells until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the shells are heated through. This will usually take about 20 minutes.
Conclusion:
Stuffed shells are a delicious and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. They can also be made ahead of time and reheated, which makes them a great option for busy families. With a few simple tips, you can make stuffed shells that are sure to impress your family and friends.
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