That is my household’s go-to recipe for stuffed shells! Al dente jumbo pasta shells, do-it-yourself marinara sauce, scrumptious ricotta cheese combination, and gooey mozzarella cheese on prime. Bounce to the recipe now! This recipe is whole consolation meals and scrumptious with garlic knots and a Caesar salad.
Subsequent time you’re craving consolation meals, make these gloriously tacky stuffed shells!!! Aka heaven in a casserole dish. My household BEGS me to make this baked pasta dish. And now we have numerous enjoyable making these stuffed shells collectively as a household.
I normally make the do-it-yourself marinara sauce and ricotta combination earlier than they be a part of me within the kitchen. Then I let my children stuff the jumbo pasta shells, grate mozzarella cheese, and chop the contemporary herbs with their littles plastic toddler knives. You’ll be able to by no means begin instructing them easy methods to prepare dinner too younger – particularly straightforward pasta dishes!
What are Stuffed Shells?
This stuffed shell recipe is basically an excellent tacky baked pasta dish, fairly much like lasagna or baked ziti. However as a substitute of layers of pasta and cheese, you’ll stuff jumbo pasta shells with cheese. And as a substitute of a meat sauce, we prime with do-it-yourself marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese mix. However you possibly can simply use meat sauce in the event you favor!
Good consolation meals for these nights you’re craving Italian-style consolation meals! We make it on a regular basis within the chilly winter months and for household gatherings and vacation celebrations.
I’ve Spicy Stuffed Shells Fra Diavolo and Caprese Stuffed Shells recipes right here on the weblog. And numerous recipe will incorporate components similar to floor beef, Italian sausage, and even frozen spinach into the sauce!
Make the Home made Marinara Sauce
For this recipe, we’re conserving issues basic with a easy marinara sauce. However don’t let the phrase ‘basic’ idiot you into considering which means plain or boring! As a result of it most definitely doesn’t. This extremely scrumptious do-it-yourself marinara sauce makes use of onion, olive oil, garlic, crushed tomatoes, and contemporary basil.
Wish to bulk it up with some protein? Be at liberty so as to add Italian sausage or floor beef to the sauce. You’ll need to totally prepare dinner it, breaking it up as you do, till the meat is now not pink. Then add it to the sauce recipe.
Let’s Discuss Ricotta Cheese Combination
- Like most stuffed shells recipes, this one options ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese.
- Retailer purchased ricotta cheese works greatest. However in a pinch, you may make and use do-it-yourself ricotta. Your ricotta combination could be somewhat thinner.
- Two eggs add construction to the cheese combination. Don’t depart these out or the ricotta cheese combination can be runny!
- Recent basil and parsley – plus salt and pepper – add loads of contemporary taste. I don’t counsel utilizing dried herbs instead of the contemporary ones.
Can I Sub Cottage Cheese for Ricotta Cheese?
- Sure, you possibly can technically sub cottage cheese for ricotta cheese on this recipe. Under are some tips about why you may not need to do it although. And a few recommendation for you in case you select to strive it out.
- However cottage cheese is chunkier and extra acidic, so your cottage cheese combination may even be barely chunkier. In the event you don’t thoughts that, it’s an important sub.
- Cottage cheese gained’t have the identical richness as ricotta cheese, so you may add an additional egg yolk to the combination if desired.
- Personally, I don’t suggest subbing cottage cheese for ricotta cheese as a result of ricotta cheese tastes higher. And has a greater texture for this recipe.
Don’t Overcook the Jumbo Pasta Shells!
- Don’t over prepare dinner your jumbo pasta shells. In reality, undercook them to make sure they don’t get gluey or too gentle within the baking dish.
- Boil them in a big pot of salt water for precisely 5 minutes, then drain them effectively and gently pat them dry. The shells will nonetheless be comparatively arduous, however gentle sufficient so that you can stuff them.
- That is good, as a result of they’ll proceed to prepare dinner within the oven. They usually’ll emerge completely cooked as soon as they’ve completed baking! Belief me right here… nobody desire a soggy stuffed shell!
- I don’t suggest making this recipe with every other noodle than jumbo pasta shells.
How one can Make Stuffed Shells
- Oven Prep: Preheat the oven half-hour earlier than you propose on baking. The oven should be on the proper temperature earlier than you place the baking dish within the oven. In any other case the cheese gained’t soften correctly.
- Stuff the Jumbo Pasta Shells: Pour some marinara sauce on the underside of your casserole dish. Then stuff every jumbo pasta shell with a few of the ricotta cheese filling.
- End Meeting: Nestle the jumbo pasta shells within the sauce as shut collectively as attainable. Then pour on the remaining tomato sauce and sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese.
- Bake the Stuffed Shells: Pop the baking dish within the oven for about 35 minutes. Or till the mozzarella cheese is melted, effervescent, and golden brown! You would possibly want so as to add a couple of minutes to the bake time in the event you’re baking it in a thick ceramic casserole dish. Or in the event you’re baking it after it’s been chilled within the fridge.
- Ending Touches: Sprinkle the shells with contemporary chopped parsley and somewhat parmesan cheese. That is completely elective however so scrumptious.
- Serve Heat: Stuffed shells are greatest served scorching – or heat – so serve them as quickly as they arrive out of the oven. This can make sure the mozzarella cheese remains to be gooey and the jumbo shells are gentle and scrumptious.
Make it Forward: Refrigerate within the Baking Dish Till Able to Bake!
- You’ll be able to totally assemble this stuffed shells recipe as much as 24 hours prematurely. Merely prepare dinner as directed, cool fully, then cowl the dish with aluminum foil. Place it within the fridge till you’re able to bake.
- While you’re able to bake, take away the foil and bake as directed. You would possibly beed so as to add a couple of minutes to the bake time.
- You too can freeze this stuffed shells recipe. Cook dinner, cool, and canopy with aluminum foil. Then freeze for as much as 2 months. I counsel making this in an aluminum baking dish in the event you plan on freezing it.
- To thaw, take away the baking dish from the freeze and thaw it within the fridge in a single day. Then take away the casserole dish 1 hour earlier than you propose on baking and let it sit at room temperature. Bake as directed, including as many minutes to the bake time as wanted. Normally 10 to fifteen.
- In the event you’re making this recipe prematurely and conserving it within the fridge or freezer, I counsel undercooking the jumbo pasta shells. I counsel boiling for precisely 3 minutes. This simply ensures your noodles gained’t get too gentle as they sit within the sauce.
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