Hey friends!
The holiday season is right around the corner, and I’ve got a festive treat for you!
Today, I’m sharing my delicious Christmas stuffed shells recipe.
These cheesy pasta shells are stuffed with all the holiday flavors you love.
They’re perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy family dinners.
Get ready to impress your guests and fill your kitchen with yummy smells! Let’s dive in!
| Preparation Time | 15-30 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 30-40 minutes |
| Total Time | 45-70 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Medium |
Ingredients
For the shells:
- 18-20 jumbo pasta shells
- extra-virgin olive oil (for drizzling)
For the filling:
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 3/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 5 oz fresh spinach (coarsely chopped)
- 1/4 cup grated pecorino cheese (I use Locatelli brand)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 grated garlic cloves (freshly grated for best aroma)
- freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- 2 cups ricotta cheese (whole milk preferred for richer flavor)
For serving:
- 2 cups marinara sauce (your favorite store-bought brand)
- chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare Spinach
Preheat your oven to 425°F.
Place the spinach in a steamer basket and set it over a pot with 1 inch of water.
Bring the water to a simmer, cover, and let steam for 1 minute or until the spinach is wilted.
Transfer the spinach to a strainer, squeeze out the excess water, and chop it finely.
Step 2: Cook the Pasta Shells
In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta shells for about 10 minutes, until they are al dente.
Drain the pasta and drizzle it with a little olive oil to prevent the shells from sticking together.
Set aside.
Step 3: Prepare the Filling
In a medium bowl, combine the chopped spinach with the ricotta cheese, pecorino cheese, garlic, oregano, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, salt, and several grinds of black pepper.
Mix everything until well combined to create a flavorful filling.
Step 4: Assemble the Dish
Spread marinara sauce evenly in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
Stuff each cooked pasta shell with the spinach and cheese filling, then place each stuffed shell in the baking dish on top of the marinara sauce.
Step 5: Bake and Serve
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
Once done, remove from the oven and serve the stuffed shells hot, with extra marinara sauce on the side if desired.
Enjoy your delicious stuffed shells!
