Classic Stuffed Shells
Classic stuffed shells are the ultimate comfort food, combining creamy ricotta, gooey mozzarella, and savory marinara sauce in one delightful package.
Ingredients
Pasta and Sauce
- 24 pieces jumbo pasta shells, cooked according to package directions
- 3 cups marinara sauce, divided use
Filling
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided (1 1/2 cups for filling, reserved 1 1/2 cups for topping)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 pieces egg
- 0.5 cups grated Parmesan cheese
- to taste Salt
- to taste Pepper
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and coat a 9x13 inch baking pan lightly with cooking spray.
- Spread 1 1/2 cups of marinara sauce evenly on the bottom of the baking dish.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella, Italian seasoning, egg, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper, mixing thoroughly until smooth.
- Carefully fill each cooked jumbo pasta shell with the ricotta cheese mixture.
- Place the filled shells in the prepared baking dish on top of the marinara sauce.
Baking
- Spoon the remaining 1 1/2 cups of marinara sauce evenly over the shells.
- Sprinkle the reserved 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle chopped parsley over the top, and serve warm.
Notes
For extra flavor, consider adding spinach or sautéed mushrooms to the ricotta mixture. Make sure to cook the pasta shells al dente as they will continue to cook in the oven. Don’t skimp on marinara sauce for moisture and flavor. You can prep these shells ahead of time and store them in the fridge before baking.