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Tuscan Stuffed Shells 🍝


  • Author: Dulcia
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 1x

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta:

6 ounces large pasta shells (approximately 20 shells)
Filling:

1 cup (246 g) ricotta cheese
½ cup (56.5 g) mozzarella cheese, grated
½ cup (50 g) parmesan cheese, grated
½ cup (50 g) romano cheese, grated
6 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon fresh basil, finely diced
Sauce:

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup yellow onion, finely diced
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
¼ cup (27.5 g) sun-dried tomatoes, softened in hot water and chopped
2 teaspoons oregano
½ teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon pepper
¼ cup (31 g) all-purpose flour
1 cup (240 g) chicken broth
1 cup (238 g) heavy cream
1 cup (30 g) fresh baby spinach
¼ cup (25 g) parmesan cheese, grated
1 cup (113 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
Basil, chopped (for garnish)


Instructions

1️⃣ Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). 🔥

2️⃣ Cook the Pasta:
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta shells 4 minutes less than the time indicated on the box (the shells will continue cooking in the oven). Drain the pasta and let it cool until you can handle it comfortably. 🍝

3️⃣ Prepare the Filling:
In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, romano cheese, cream cheese, garlic, salt, pepper, and basil. Mix until smooth. 🧀🌿
Transfer the filling mixture to a piping bag (or a zipped plastic bag with the corner cut off). Fill each pasta shell with the prepared mixture. Set aside. 🌟

4️⃣ Make the Sauce:
In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the diced onions and cook until they are translucent and fragrant (about 5 minutes). 🧅
Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute. 🧄
Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for a minute, then add the flour. Continue cooking for another 1-2 minutes until the mixture thickens. 🍅
Gradually pour in the chicken broth, stirring with a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. 🥣
Add the heavy cream, spinach, and grated parmesan cheese. Continue cooking until the spinach is wilted, about 3-5 minutes. 🌿🧀

5️⃣ Assemble the Dish:
In a 12-inch cast-iron skillet (or any oven-safe skillet), spread 1 cup of the prepared sauce. Place the stuffed pasta shells in an even layer on top of the sauce. 🌟
Pour the remaining sauce over the pasta shells, ensuring they are fully covered to prevent them from drying out in the oven. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese on top. 🧀

6️⃣ Bake:
Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes. Then, switch to the broil setting and broil the shells for 2-3 minutes, watching closely until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly. 🧀🔥

7️⃣ Serve:
Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh chopped basil before serving. Enjoy your delicious Tuscan Stuffed Shells! 🍃✨

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes