These creamy, cheesy, veggie-packed jumbo shells are the perfect cozy comfort dish. Simple to make, full of flavor, and sure to impress — whether you’re cooking for family, guests, or just treating yourself!
🍽️ Recipe Info
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Type: Vegetarian 🌿
🛒 Ingredients
- 16 jumbo pasta shells (you may need fewer, but 16 fit nicely in a standard tray)
- 2 tbsp olive oil 🫒
- 2 garlic cloves, minced 🧄
- 200g fresh spinach 🌿
- 300g ricotta cheese
- 80g shredded cheese of choice (mozzarella works great!) 🧀
- 30g grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp dried basil (or fresh if you have it!)
- Salt & black pepper to taste 🧂
- 400g tomato sauce 🍅
👩🍳 Instructions
- Boil the Pasta
Cook the jumbo pasta shells in salted water, but reduce the cooking time by 2–3 minutes from what’s listed on the package. This keeps them firm and easier to fill. Drain and let cool.
- Sauté the Spinach
In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant and slightly golden. Add the spinach and sauté until wilted and reduced, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
- Make the Filling
In a bowl, mix the sautéed spinach, ricotta, Parmesan, shredded cheese (save some for topping!), basil, salt, and pepper until well combined and creamy.
- Assemble
Pour the tomato sauce into the bottom of a baking dish and spread it out evenly. Stuff each pasta shell with the ricotta-spinach mixture and arrange them in the dish on top of the sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese 🧀.
- Bake to Perfection
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (390°F) for 20 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly 🔥.
💡 Tips & Variations
- Want a little heat? Add a pinch of chili flakes to the filling 🌶️
- Make ahead: prep and refrigerate up to 1 day in advance
- Leftovers? They reheat beautifully the next day! ♻️
🥄 Serve With
A crisp green salad 🥗 and some garlic bread 🥖 make the perfect pairing!
Let me know if you give this one a try!
The Secret Street 
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