Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with creamy ricotta and topped with marinara and mozzarella cheese. These ricotta stuffed shells are an easy make-ahead dish that’s family and freezer friendly!
Table of Contents
Classic Stuffed Shells
Stuffed shells are a huge winner in our house. The whole family loves them and always goes back for seconds. This ricotta version is our favorite, but you can make other fun variations like these cheesy Mexican stuffed shells. So delicious!
My family absolutely loves this recipe! It’s one that every single one of my kids will eat. Even my 2 year old will eat shell after shell. Another favorite is this easy baked ziti recipe!
This dish is a classic and is seriously pure comfort. Creamy, cheesy and delicious. Just imagine a jumbo pasta shell stuffed with creamy ricotta and covered with marinara sauce and cheese. I mean, does it get better than that?
I love that it’s super easy to prepare and is done in less than 45 minutes. This is the perfect make ahead meal and is also freezer friendly.
How to Make Ricotta Stuffed Shells
Cook noodles. Add the shells to a pot of boiling water and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and run under cold water.
Assemble. Pour a cup of marinara in the bottom of a 9×13″ baking dish. Combine the ricotta, parmesan, egg, parsley, Italian seasoning and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Using a small cookie scoop, fill the shells with the ricotta mixture. Place the shells in the pan, then top with remaining sauce and cheese.
Bake. Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the cheese is bubbly, about 5 more minutes.
Variations
- If you want to add some protein, feel free to top with your favorite meat sauce or bolognese sauce.
- Want to make spinach ricotta stuffed shells? Add 1/2 cup frozen spinach (thawed and squeezed dry) to the cheese mixture.
- Add red pepper flakes to the ricotta mix for a little heat.
- Instead of jumbo shells, use manicotti noodles to turn this recipe into an easy stuffed manicotti.
What to Serve with Stuffed Shells?
Make Ahead + Freezing
To Make in Advance: Boil the noodles and assemble the dish according to directions. Cover with foil and place in the fridge for up to 1 day. When ready to bake, remove from fridge and let sit at room temperature while the oven warms up. Then bake according to directions.
Freezing Instructions: Using a freezer safe pan, prepare the dish as directed. Do not bake and instead wrap with foil. Then store in freezer. Bake from frozen for about 50 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly.
More Baked Pasta Dishes
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Ricotta Stuffed Shells Recipe
Ingredients
- 20 jumbo pasta shells
- 24 ounce jar marinara sauce
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 3 Tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of water. Add the noodles and boil for 8 minutes or until cooked al dente. The drain and run through cool water.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13" pan with non-stick spray. Then pour 1 cup of the marinara onto the bottom of the pan.
- In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Use a small cookie scoop or place the mixture in a zip top bag and snip the top off. Then fill the shells with about 1 1/2 Tablespoons of the cheese mixture.
- Place shells in pan. Then top with the remaining sauce and cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes covered. Then uncover and back for 5 more minutes or until the cheese is bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Freezer-Friendly, Italian, Pasta, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
This was absolutely pure comfort food! I love Italian food and with all that cheesy goodness plus the flavorful marinara this was a no-brainer to make for dinner. I did add some ground beef to the sauce and then served it with a side salad. It really hit the spot.