Description
These Christmas Stuffed Shells are the ultimate cozy holiday comfort food—tender jumbo pasta shells filled with creamy spinach ricotta, baked in rich marinara, and topped with melty cheese. Perfect for festive family dinners or potluck gatherings!
Ingredients
For the Shells
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18–20 jumbo pasta shells
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Extra-virgin olive oil (for drizzling)
For the Filling
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5 oz fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
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2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese
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1/4 cup grated pecorino cheese
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2 garlic cloves, freshly grated
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1 tsp lemon zest
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1 tsp dried oregano
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3/4 tsp sea salt
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1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
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Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For Serving
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2 cups marinara sauce
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Chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
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Prepare the Oven & Spinach:
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place spinach in a steamer basket over simmering water. Steam for about 1 minute until wilted. Transfer to a strainer, squeeze out excess liquid, and chop finely. -
Cook the Pasta Shells:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the shells for about 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain and drizzle lightly with olive oil to prevent sticking. -
Make the Filling:
In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped spinach, ricotta, pecorino, garlic, lemon zest, oregano, red pepper flakes, sea salt, and black pepper. Stir until creamy and well blended. -
Assemble the Dish:
Spread the marinara sauce evenly across the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Stuff each shell generously with the spinach-ricotta mixture and arrange them in the dish on top of the sauce. -
Bake:
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, garnish with parsley, and serve warm with extra marinara if desired.
Notes
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You can prepare the shells ahead of time and refrigerate before baking.
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Add a sprinkle of mozzarella on top before baking for extra cheesy goodness.
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Leftovers reheat beautifully the next day!
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Make it spicy by adding more red pepper flakes.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Pasta, Holiday
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg