Print

Easy Christmas Stuffed Shells Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.3 from 233 reviews

This Easy Christmas Stuffed Shells recipe features jumbo pasta shells filled with a creamy spinach and ricotta mixture, baked in marinara sauce for a comforting and festive Italian-inspired dish. Perfect for holiday dinners or cozy family meals, it’s a delightful blend of cheesy, savory flavors with a hint of spice and lemon zest.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 18 to 20 jumbo pasta shells
  • Extra-virgin olive oil (for drizzling)
  • Sea salt (for pasta water)

Filling

  • 5 ounces fresh spinach
  • 2 cups ricotta cheese (16 ounces)
  • 1/4 cup grated pecorino cheese (plus extra for sprinkling)
  • 2 grated garlic cloves
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

Sauce & Garnish

  • 2 cups marinara sauce (plus extra for serving)
  • Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the Oven and Prepare Spinach: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Place the fresh spinach in a steamer basket over a pot with about 1 inch of simmering water. Cover and steam the spinach for 1 minute until wilted. Transfer to a strainer and squeeze out excess water, then chop finely.
  2. Cook the Pasta Shells: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the jumbo pasta shells and cook for about 10 minutes until al dente. Drain and drizzle with a little olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
  3. Prepare the Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the chopped spinach, ricotta cheese, grated pecorino, grated garlic cloves, dried oregano, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix until all ingredients are well incorporated to make a flavorful filling.
  4. Assemble the Dish: Spread 2 cups of marinara sauce evenly over the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Stuff each cooked pasta shell with the spinach and cheese filling, and arrange them in the baking dish on top of the sauce.
  5. Bake and Serve: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with extra grated pecorino cheese and chopped fresh parsley for garnish. Serve hot with additional marinara sauce on the side if desired. Enjoy your festive stuffed shells!

Notes

  • To ensure shells don’t stick after boiling, gently toss them with olive oil.
  • Make sure to squeeze out as much water as possible from the steamed spinach to avoid soggy filling.
  • For a richer flavor, you can add a bit of shredded mozzarella on top before baking.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
  • Use gluten-free pasta shells to make this recipe gluten-free.

Keywords: Stuffed Shells, Christmas Dinner, Easy Holiday Recipe, Spinach and Ricotta Pasta, Baked Pasta Dish, Italian Comfort Food

Find it online: https://foodiecara.com/easy-christmas-stuffed-shells-recipe/