Stuffed Pasta Shells

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These delicious Pasta Shells are stuffed with a creamy ricotta filling and topped with a classic Italian sauce. It makes the perfect family or special occasion dinner idea. Stuffed Pasta never tasted so good!

Whenever I am looking for a comfort pasta food these stuffed shells are always one of the first that come to mind. I love them with the sauce I include in the recipe or even a simple tomato sauce (also known as a Marinara Sauce) or a Tomato Cream Sauce. All are perfectly delicious.

The Ingredients you will need to make this recipe

For the Sauce

Olive oil
Garlic – 1-2 cloves minced
Onion
Carrot – chopped
Celery – chopped
Tomato puree – also known as tomato passata or conserva
Water
Salt
Basil – you can use ground or fresh basil
Oregano – ground

For the Pasta

Ricotta cheese – I like to use dairy rather than goat ricotta
Spinach – fresh or frozen
Parmesan cheese – freshly grated
Egg – large
Salt
Nutmeg – just a pinch if you want
Pasta Shells – jumbo pasta shells good quality pasta

What is ricotta cheese?

Ricotta cheese is made from leftover whey from other cheeses, it can be from cow, goat, sheep or Italian Buffalo. Sometimes an acidifier is added. Ricotta meaning recooked is just that, the recooking of the whey. Since it is not produced from curd, but from whey, ricotta cannot be considered a real cheese. The term ricotta can also mean the fresh one.

Most if not all the regions of Italy make their own ricotta but the most popular comes from Lazio, Abruzzo, Basilicata, Sicilia, Sardegna, Campania, Puglia, Calabria, Toscana, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardia e Piemonte. And Baked Ricotta is originally from the Region of Sardegna.

How to make Stuffed Pasta Shells

Start by making the sauce, in a large skillet add the olive oil, garlic, onion, carrot and celery, cook on medium heat for a couple of minutes, then add the tomato puree, water, salt, basil and oregano stir to combine, continue to cook, half covered until thickened.

Cook the pasta shells in a large pot of salted water until very al dente. Check the box and boil 2 minutes less then the recommended cooking time. Drain well and set aside.

While the sauce is cooking, in one inch of lightly salted water, cook the spinach until very tender, then drain. Let it cool, once it has cooled, squeeze out as much excess moisture as possible.

Finely chop the spinach. Place it in a medium bowl, add the ricotta, egg, pinch of salt, nutmeg and the parmesan cheese, gently mix together.

Adding the filling to the bowl and mixing together.

In a medium size baking dish or large casserole dish spread a little sauce on the bottom, fill the shells with the ricotta mixture and place in the pan.

Filling the shells with the mixture and in the pan.

Spoon the remaining sauce over the shells, but don’t cover completely, sprinkle with the 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese or even some grated mozzarella cheese if you wish, bake in the pre-heated oven. Top with more freshly grated parmesan cheese if desired before serving.

The sauce and parmesan cheese on the shells in the pan.

Tips for making the best Stuffed Pasta Shells

Don’t overcook the pasta. The shells need to be cooked just to al dente so that they remain sturdy and ready for filling. If they are overcooked, they can tear as you begin to open them for filling. Be sure to drain well before filling.

The mixture fills 24 shells and they fit perfectly a pan measuring 11×7 inches (28×18 cm).

FAQs

What is a stuffed pasta shell called?

The pasta shells needed for this recipe are usually labeled as “jumbo shells” or, more rarely labeled as “conchiglioni”. They are typically filled with a ricotta mixture and topped with a tomato sauce and melted cheese.

What goes well with stuffed shells?

A simple side salad, breadsticks, homemade bread, garlic bread or a side of vegetables would go great with stuffed shells.

How do you keep pasta shells from sticking together while cooling?

If you have drained your pasta, you can add a little bit of classic olive oil to the pasta to keep them from drying out and/or sticking together.

Substitute for Pasta Shells

If you can’t find jumbo pasta shells then you can substitute with cannelloni shells, prepare the same way.

Can I add meat to the sauce

If you want you can add some ground turkey, chopped Italian sausage or even ground beef to the sauce, I would advise adding it after cooking the carrots and celery.

How to store the Stuffed Pasta Shells

Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated. They last about 3-5 days in the fridge.

How to freeze them

Stuffed shells can be frozen. After stuffing the pasta shells, place on a baking sheet and place in the freezer until they begin to harden.

Then, remove from the baking sheet and place in either a freezer bag or an airtight container. When ready to serve, thaw the shells, and continue with the recipe. They will last for up to three months in the freezer.

So whenever you are looking for the perfect Pasta comfort food, I hope you give these Stuffed Pasta Shells a try and let me know what you think. Buon Appetito!