If you're looking for easy dinner ideas that the whole family will love, this Stuffed Shells Recipe is a must-try! Filled with creamy ricotta cheese and baked in a flavorful marinara sauce, these pasta shells are the ultimate comfort food. They are perfect for a busy weeknight meal or prepping ahead.
Jump to:
This stuffed shells recipe with ricotta is a quick and easy dinner that is perfect for a busy weeknight.
Why You'll Love Italian Stuffed Shells
- Easy to make – The hardest part is boiling the pasta! After that, it’s just mix, stuff, and bake.
- Perfect for busy nights – This dish comes together quickly and bakes in just about 30 minutes.
- Family-approved – Cheesy, saucy, and satisfying - even for picky eaters.
- Customizable – Add spinach, ground beef, or even swap in alfredo sauce for a fun twist.
- Freezer-friendly – Make a double batch and freeze one for an easy dinner later.
- Pairs beautifully – Serve with garlic bread and a simple side salad for a complete meal.
Stuffed Shell Recipes
Stuffed shells recipes are a comfort food favorite thanks to their creamy filling, rich sauce, and cozy, baked goodness. They're easy to customize with different cheeses, meats, or sauces, making them perfect for picky eaters or those on the more adventurous side.
Here are some yummy ways to make stuffed shells:
- Chicken Taco Stuffed Shells
- Spinach Stuffed Shells
- Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells
- Taco Stuffed Shells Casserole
Ingredients for Stuffed Shells Recipe
- Jumbo shells - approximately 20 jumbo shells
- Ricotta cheese - If you don't have ricotta, you can use a mix of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, but the results won't be as creamy.
- Shredded mozzarella cheese - You can buy it pre-shredded or shred your own from a block of mozzarella.
- Egg - Adding an egg to the ricotta will help bind the cheese and prevent it from becoming runny and coming out of the shell while cooking.
- Italian seasoning - Made from oregano, thyme, rosemary, basil, and marjoram.
- Marinara sauce - You can use jarred or make your own tomato sauce.
Tools Needed for Authentic Italian Stuffed Shells Recipe
To make this stuffed shells recipe, you'll need a large pot for boiling the pasta and a 9x13-inch baking dish for assembling everything. A mixing bowl and spoon will help you combine the ricotta filling, and a spoon or small scoop makes stuffing the shells easier.
Yellow Kitchen Labels Printables
Gotham Steel 5 Quart Stock Pot Ceramic Multipurpose Pasta Pot
Pyrex Colors (9Amazon Basics Nesting Melamine Mixing Round Bowl with Lid and
How To Make Easy Stuffed Shells
1. Prep the pasta: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta shells according to the package instructions. Drain, spray lightly with cooking spray to prevent sticking, and set aside.
2. Mix the filling: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, an egg, Italian seasoning, and shredded mozzarella. Stir until smooth and well mixed.
3. Fill the shells: Spoon the ricotta mixture into each cooked shell, filling them generously.
4. Assemble the dish: Lightly spray a baking dish with cooking spray, then arrange the stuffed shells inside. You can fit four rows of five shells each.
5. Add the sauce: Spoon marinara sauce evenly over the stuffed shells, making sure each one gets a good amount.
6. Top with cheese: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the saucy shells for that gooey, melty finish.
7. Bake it up: Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes in a 350-degree oven. Remove foil and bake for another 5 minutes.
You can sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top if you wish, but this Stuffed Pasta Shells Recipe doesn't really need anything else. They are that good!
If you have any leftovers of ricotta stuffed shells, they are great to take to work the next day. Just heat up in the microwave and enjoy!
Tips for Stuffed Shells Recipe
Tip 1: You can prepare these stuffed shells the night before, cover them, and place them in the refrigerator. You can then pop them in the oven the next day when ready to use them.
Tip 2: Whole milk mozzarella is my favorite to use in this recipe because I find it melts more easily and is richer.
FAQs for Italian Stuffed Shells Recipe
Since I was in a hurry, I used a jarred marinara sauce. If you have a favorite sauce recipe, feel free to use that. If you are looking for a delicious sauce recipe, try this Homemade Marinara Sauce.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
You can add ground turkey, ground beef, or chopped up Italian sausage to the ricotta cheese mixture. You can also add some chopped veggies.
Recipes With Ricotta
Ricotta cheese is super versatile and works in both sweet and savory dishes. You can stir it into pasta sauces or use it as a creamy layer in baked dishes. Here are some of our favorite ways to use this delicious cheese:
Whether you're feeding a hungry family or hosting friends, these stuffed shells are always a win. They're easy to make, full of comforting flavor, and easy to customize with your favorite fillings and sauces.
Add some garlic bread and a fresh salad on the side, and you’ve got a dinner that will bring a smile to everyone to the table.
Italian Recipes
🌟If you try this recipe, leave a star rating below or a review in the comment section. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to get my latest recipes! When you sign up you get The 5 Essential Recipes All Busy Moms Need.
📖 Recipe
Stuffed Shells Recipe
Equipment
Video
Ingredients
- 8 oz jumbo shells approximately 20 jumbo shells
- Cooking spray
- 1 ¾ cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Boil water and cook shells according to directions on package. Drain the shells, spray them with cooking spray (to prevent sticking) and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix ricotta, egg, Italian seasoning and 1 cup of mozzarella until combined well.
- Fill each shell with a tablespoon of the ricotta mixture.
- Spray a 9×13 casserole dish. Fill the casserole dish with the stuffed shells. You can fit four rows of five shells.
- Pour 1 cup of marinara sauce over the stuffed shells.
- Sprinkle remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella over the sauce.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
- Remove foil and bake for another 5 minutes.
Notes
- You can easily prep these stuffed shells the night before. Just assemble, cover, and pop them in the fridge. The next day, all you have to do is bake and serve!
- I like using whole milk mozzarella for this recipe because it melts beautifully and adds a rich, creamy flavor.
Marcy G says
I've made this recipe 4 times and doubled it twice. It comes out perfect everything. Thank you!
Vicky says
Thank you Marcy! So happy to hear it worked out for you!
Marcy Goff says
I have never made stuffed shells, so this was a first. The recipe was easy to follow and make. I froze the shells for something quick for weekday dinners. They were great! My husband and I loved them.
Vicky says
I'm so glad to hear that you and your husband enjoyed the stuffed shells! It's always wonderful to know that a recipe was easy to follow, especially for a first-timer. Freezing them for quick weekday dinners is such a smart idea!
Esther says
I make this meal quite often but I add ground Italian sausage and sometimes spinach and it’s delicious.
Vicky says
That sounds absolutely delicious! Adding ground Italian sausage and spinach to the meal must bring a wonderful depth of flavor and richness. It's amazing how a few simple additions can transform a dish into something truly delightful. Thank you for sharing your twist on this recipe—it's sure to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen too! Happy cooking!
Josh says
Amazing meal. I make this recipe at least once a month
Kassidy says
Does whole milk vs part skim ricotta cheese matter? Thanks!
Vicky says
The whole milk ricotta will have a creamier texture but has more calories and fat if that matters. It tastes good with part skim ricotta too.
Mercedes says
Will be trying this for dinner tomorrow!
Kathy says
Could I throw i ground beef to make a play on manicotti?
Vicky says
I think cooked ground beef would be fabulous Kathy!
Lanne says
Would this be good with cottage cheese in place of the ricotta?
Vicky says
I have never tried that Lanne so I am not sure how it would work. If you try it please come back and report as others might be interested in that option. Have a great weekend!
R.Haugh says
Just had this for supper ; very good, smooth and cheesy. Our whole family liked it very much.
Vicky says
So glad to hear that. It is a favorite here. Thanks for letting me know.