Stuffed Shells are a popular and comforting dish that makes a great lunch or dinner and a perfect dish for whenever you have guests around. The large shells are filled with a three cheese filling mixed with fresh herbs, all covered in marinara sauce, topped with more cheese and breadcrumbs and baked until beautifully browned. These Three Cheese Stuffed Shells are simple, quick and impressive, a dish that everybody will love for sure.
This is the classic version of stuffed shells, but you can always make variations to the dish like adding meat, or different herbs or vegetables and have amazing dishes each time. Serve it alongside a fresh salad and some garlic bread. Hope you will give this easy three cheese stuffed shells recipe a try and enjoy as much as we did:)
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Easy Three Cheese Stuffed Shells
Ingredients
- 20 jumbo pasta shells (about 7oz - 200g)
Three Cheese Filling
- 15 oz (430g) ricotta cheese
- 2 cups (200g) shredded mozzarella cheese , divided
- 1/2 cup (50g) grated parmesan cheese
- 1 egg , beaten
- 2 tbsp fresh basil finely chopped (or 2 tsp dried)
- 1 tbsp fresh oregano (or 1 tsp dried)
- 1/2 tsp (3g) salt
- 1/4 tsp (1g) ground pepper
- 1/4 tsp (1g) garlic powder
Marinara Sauce
- 21 oz (600g) tomato puree
- 1 tbsp (14g) olive oil
- 1 clove garlic , minced
- 1 tsp (5g) sugar
- 2 tbsp fresh basil and oregano
- 1 tsp (5g) salt
- freshly ground black pepper
For topping
- 1/2 cup (30g) breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp (14g) butter , melted
Instructions
- Prepare marinara sauce. In a medium skillet, heat olive-oil over medium-low heat. Add garlic and cook for a few seconds until fragrant. Add tomato puree, sugar, basil, oregano, salt and pepper.
- Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10-15 minutes, until slightly reduced and thickened.
- When done, remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (180C). Grease a 8 X 12 inch (20x30cm) baking dish with olive oil or melted butter ( 9×13 inch dish works as well).
- While you prepare the marinara sauce, cook the pasta in salted water with 3-4 minutes less than package instructions, in my case for 11 minutes.
- In a medium bowl mix together ricotta cheese with 1 cup mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, fresh basil and oregano, beaten egg, salt, garlic powder and black pepper.
- Using a spoon or simply a piping bag fill each shell with the ricotta mixture.
- Spread half of the marinara sauce in the bottom of the pan.
- Arrange the filled shells over the sauce.
- Top the shells with remaining marinara sauce and sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
- In a small bowl mix the breadcrumbs with melted butter.
- Spread breadcrumbs over the top.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Uncover the pan and bake for 15 minutes more. If necessary, broil for a few minutes until the cheese has the desired golden brown look.
- Decorate with fresh basil and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @homecookingadventure on Instagram and hashtag it #homecookingadventure.
Hi,
This is Ashley John, I really loved the video and it looks really good too. I just a question about the cheese filling. Do the eggs need to be added in the cheese filling or don’t have to put it? Please let me know.
I did add the egg in the cheese filling.. I reccomend you do the same.. it helps bind everything together 🙂 let me know if you try it out
Hey – such a great Stuffed Shells recipe. We will try it out here one day. Can we share your recipe within our network as well? 🙂
Is it ok if I assemble this dish the day before and bake it the next day? Thank you! And thank you for all your work.