Description
Hearty Italian-American Pioneer Woman Stuffed Shells promise rich comfort and cheesy delight. Generous pasta shells cradle a creamy ricotta and spinach mixture, baked to golden perfection for a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) jumbo pasta shells
- 30 ounces (850 grams) whole-milk ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces (226 grams) Parmesan cheese, grated
- 8 ounces (226 grams) mozzarella cheese, grated
Cheese and Herbs:
- ½ cup (50 grams) grated Romano cheese
- 2 tablespoons (8 grams) minced fresh parsley
- 12 leaves fresh basil, cut into chiffonade
- 1 large egg
Seasonings and Sauce:
- 2 jars good-quality marinara sauce
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Crusty French bread, for serving
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius), preparing a welcoming environment for the pasta shells.
- Fill a large pot with water, add a hearty pinch of kosher salt, and cook the jumbo pasta shells until they reach a tender al dente texture. Carefully drain and allow the shells to cool completely.
- Create a rich filling by combining whole-milk ricotta cheese, Romano cheese, fresh parsley, delicate basil chiffonade, and a single large egg in a mixing bowl. Season with freshly ground black pepper, stirring until the ingredients meld together seamlessly.
- Prepare the baking dish by spreading a generous layer of marinara sauce across the bottom, creating a flavorful foundation for the shells.
- Methodically fill each pasta shell with the creamy ricotta mixture, positioning them carefully atop the sauce-covered base of the baking dish.
- Generously cascade the remaining marinara sauce over the stuffed shells, ensuring complete coverage and maximum flavor penetration.
- Liberally distribute grated Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses across the top, creating a tempting golden blanket of dairy goodness.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil and slide into the preheated oven, allowing the shells to bake for 30 minutes, letting the flavors intensify and meld.
- Remove the foil and return to the oven for an additional 15 minutes, watching as the cheese transforms into a bubbling, golden-brown masterpiece.
- Serve immediately, accompanied by crusty French bread to capture every last drop of the luscious sauce, creating a truly memorable dining experience.
Notes
- Master Pasta Precision: Carefully boil jumbo shells until just tender, ensuring they maintain structural integrity for seamless stuffing and baking.
- Oil Prevention Technique: Gently coat freshly cooked shells with olive oil to prevent unwanted clumping and maintain individual shell separation.
- Ultimate Cheese Finish: Transform the dish’s appearance by strategically broiling the top, creating a stunning golden-brown cheese crust that adds irresistible texture.
- Advance Preparation Strategy: Craft the entire dish in advance by assembling and refrigerating, allowing flavors to meld while simplifying meal preparation.
- Creative Filling Exploration: Elevate the basic ricotta mixture by incorporating diverse ingredients like sautéed vegetables, ground proteins, or unexpected herbs for personalized culinary excitement.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 605 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg