Description
Olive Garden’s jumbo stuffed shells bring hearty Italian comfort straight to home kitchens with rich cheese and savory marinara. Home cooks can recreate restaurant magic by layering pasta shells with creamy ricotta and perfectly seasoned sauce for a delightful family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 20 jumbo pasta shells
- 1 cup (240 ml) ricotta cheese
- 1 cup (240 ml) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup (240 ml) chopped fresh spinach
- 2 cups (480 ml) marinara sauce
Cheese and Binding Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and prepare a spacious baking dish for the shells.
- Cook pasta shells in boiling water until they reach a tender al dente consistency, then carefully drain and set aside to cool slightly.
- Create a rich filling by thoroughly mixing ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, finely chopped spinach, beaten egg, minced basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl.
- Gently stuff each pasta shell with the creamy cheese and spinach mixture, ensuring a generous and even fill.
- Arrange the stuffed shells neatly in the prepared baking dish, positioning them close together but not overcrowded.
- Generously drizzle marinara sauce over the shells, covering them completely to prevent drying during baking.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese evenly across the top, creating a golden, melted cheese layer.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the cheese turns bubbly and golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let the dish rest for 5 minutes to allow the filling to set and cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Swap ricotta for low-fat cottage cheese to reduce calorie and fat content while maintaining creamy texture.
- Use gluten-free pasta shells for those with wheat sensitivities, ensuring the dish remains inclusive.
- Incorporate extra vegetables like diced zucchini or roasted bell peppers into the filling for added nutrition and flavor complexity.
- Experiment with plant-based cheese alternatives to create a delicious vegan version of this classic comfort dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg