This spinach stuffed shells recipe is a family favorite Italian comfort food recipe that everyone loves! Jumbo shells are cooked until al dente, then stuffed with a mixture of ricotta, Parmesan cheese, spinach, and a blend of dried herbs. They’re topped with a generous layer of mozzarella and marinara sauce before being baked until golden brown and bubbling. Stuffed shells are easy enough to prepare for weeknight dinners, but they’re also great for dinner parties and holiday entertaining. No one can resist pasta that’s loaded with three kinds of cheese! To save time, I used my favorite store-bought marinara sauce to make this recipe. However, if you have a tried and true marinara or bolognese sauce recipe that your family loves, feel free to use that instead. Pair the ricotta and spinach stuffed shells with steamed or roasted veggies, a basic house salad, or cheesy garlic bread for a simple yet unforgettable Italian feast!
Ingredients for This Recipe
You don’t need many ingredients to make simple stuffed shells with spinach and ricotta. Here’s what you’ll need:
Jumbo shells Olive oil Garlic Fresh baby spinach Ricotta cheese Parmesan cheese Egg Salt and pepper Dried herbs (parsley, basil, oregano) Marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade; bolognese sauce works too!) Shredded mozzarella cheese Fresh parsley or fresh basil, optional, for garnishing
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells
Stuffing jumbo pasta shells one by one takes a little extra TLC than your average pasta casserole, but the resulting golden brown shells oozing with cheese are worth it! Let’s review the basic steps to making this comfort food recipe:
Make-Ahead Instructions – Freezer Storage
Spinach ricotta stuffed shells are a fantastic make-ahead dinner that you can keep stashed in your freezer until you’re ready to bake and serve them. Follow the recipe exactly as written, up to the point that you’d bake it. Stop there, cover tightly with foil, and refrigerate for up to about 24 hours ahead of time. If I am doing it this way, I do it the night before my event, and that way the next day all I have to do is bake it off. Take the casserole dish out of the fridge though a good 30-45 minutes before you bake it since that very cold dish will slow down baking time otherwise. You have two options for freezing the assembled stuffed shells:
More Easy Pasta and Italian Recipes:
Pasta with Vodka Sauce — Make an Italian restaurant-worthy pasta dish EASILY at home in 30 minutes! Pasta is tossed in a tomato-forward sauce that includes red pepper flakes, onions, garlic, spinach, heavy cream for RICHNESS, and of course, vodka! A family FAVORITE comfort food classic recipe that’s doable for busy weeknights, for entertaining, or for date night at home! Cook the shells just until al dente. You want the cooked shells to retain some bite since they’ll soften further once stuffed with the ricotta mixture and topped with marinara sauce. If you boil the shells until they’re fully soft, they’ll fall apart once stuffed and baked in the sauce. Use full-fat dairy products. Now is not the time to cut calories! Full-fat ricotta, Parm, and mozzarella will result in flavorful, creamy stuffed shells. Grate the Parmesan yourself. Pre-grated cheeses typically contain an anti-caking agent which makes them less prone to melting. For the smoothest filling, buy a block of Parm and grate it yourself using a box grater. It will take all of 30 seconds to do! Using fresh vs dried herbs. If you’re making this recipe around the holidays and have fresh herbs on hand, you’ll need about three times the amount than the recipe calls for (i.e. 1 ½ teaspoons each of fresh parsley, basil, and oregano). Adding protein: If desired, you could add 1/2 pound of cooked and crumbled Italian sausage, ground beef, shredded chicken, etc. to the cheese filling. You’ll end up with leftover filling though since the meat will bulk up the recipe! Freezer: If you want to prep this as a Make-In-Advance freezer recipe, see the above section. Leftovers can be frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat: Warm for 30-second bursts in the microwave, or as desired. Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs — A family favorite recipe that never goes out of style! Made with homemade beef and pork baked meatballs, homemade marinara sauce, and perfectly cooked al dente spaghetti, this Italian classic is sure to get rave reviews! Not only do they taste FABULOUS but both homemade meatballs and homemade marinara are FASTER and EASIER than you may think! Cheesy Gnocchi and Meatballs — True Italian comfort food with these beef and pork homemade meatballs along with pillowy gnocchi. Everything is covered in homemade tomato sauce , smothered with cheese, and baked! Easier than it looks, and an instant family favorite that everyone will beg you to make again! Homemade Italian Sausage Lasagna — Made with Italian sausage, ground beef, three kinds of cheeses, and plenty of herbs and spices for the BEST homemade lasagna that your friends and family will LOVE! Easier than you think to make and everything is spelled out in detail for lasagna-at-home that tastes like it’s from a fancy Italian restaurant! Lasagna Pinwheels — Rolled up lasagna that’s filled with juicy Italian sausage and a rich and creamy bechamel sauce before being baked in tomato sauce and more cheese! Comfort food at its finest that the whole family will LOVE! Shortcuts provided if you want to use store bought sauces rather than making your sauces to save time. Cheesy Ravioli Lasagna — This EASY lasagna comes together with just four simple ingredients, making it perfect for busy weeknights!! The whole family will LOVE this cheesy comfort food lasagna recipe! Cheesy Beef Ravioli – EASY, ready in 30 minutes, and it’s pure cheesy COMFORT FOOD in every bite!! Makes a big batch and it’s perfect for meal prep and planned freezer meals! Chicken Alfredo Lasagna Roll Ups — Chicken and bacon combined with spinach and herbs, rolled up in lasagna noodles, and smothered in a homemade three-cheese alfredo sauce! This is the ultimate CREAMY CHEESY COMFORT food recipe that everyone ADORES! Can be prepped in advance and baked off later. Baked Ziti with Chicken — A FAST and EASY pasta bake made with al dente ziti, juicy chicken, marinara sauce, and two types of CHEESE for the ultimate comfort food casserole! Ready in 45 minutes, perfect for weeknight dinners or casual family get-togethers, and picky eater approved! Use pasta that’s in your pantry, a jar of marinara, rotisserie chicken, cheese, and you’re set – nothing too fancy or complicated here and planned leftovers are a bonus! Baked Chicken Alfredo — Hearty Italian-inspired comfort food! Fettuccine noodles are tossed in a homemade alfredo sauce, topped with chicken, baked, and then finished off with crispy crunchy breadcrumbs! A classic yet easy recipe that’ll be a guaranteed family favorite! Healthier 20-Minute Skillet Lasagna — A fast, EASY, healthier way to enjoy lasagna — in skillet form!! Warm pasta and beef topped with tomato sauce and Parmesan is IRRESISTIBLE! Easy 30-Minute Skillet Lasagna — Everything cooks in one skillet and you don’t even need to boil the noodles separately!! Full of classic lasagna flavor but so much faster and easier! Now you can make lasagna on busy weeknights!! Healthier 20-Minute Skillet Lasagna — A fast, EASY, healthier way to enjoy lasagna — in skillet form!! Warm pasta and beef topped with tomato sauce and Parmesan is IRRESISTIBLE!! Chicken Parmesan Pasta Bake — A hearty comfort food casserole that includes juicy chicken, pasta, marinara, the BEST crispy buttery breadcrumb topping and TWO types of cheese!! A family favorite big-batch recipe that’s also great for meal prepping!! Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Casserole — Hearty comfort food that’s EASY and IRRESISTIBLE!! Cheesy pasta and beef coated in marinara sauce and topped with more CHEESE! Makes planned leftovers and is freezer-friendly!! One Pot Italian Sausage and Tomato Basil Pasta – An EASY comfort food recipe that’s loaded with Italian flavors, ready in 20 minutes, made in ONE pot, and a family favorite!! No need to boil the pasta separately to save time and dishes!!
