Description
Spinach Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce are a comforting and flavorful dish that brings families together. Plump jumbo pasta shells filled with creamy spinach and ricotta are topped with a savory meat sauce infused with garlic and Italian herbs. This dish is perfect for cozy dinners or impressing guests at your next gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 jumbo pasta shells
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups canned tomato sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil water in a large pot, add salt, and cook jumbo shells until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain and rinse under cold water.
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef with minced garlic for 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat, then stir in tomato sauce and simmer for 15 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix chopped spinach, ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper until combined.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread some meat sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Fill each shell with the spinach mixture and place them in the dish.
- Pour remaining meat sauce over filled shells and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes until bubbly.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 stuffed shells (approximately 300g)
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 870mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: Personalize by swapping ground beef for turkey or adding vegetables like mushrooms or zucchini to the filling. Assemble ahead of time and refrigerate before baking for easy meal prep.