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4.84 from 6 votes

Tuscan Stuffed Shells

Tuscan Stuffed Shells are large pasta shells filled with a rich and cheesy mixture and baked in a creamy sauce topped with mozzarella cheese.
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time13 minutes
Total Time38 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Tuscan Stuffed Shells
Servings: 4
Calories: 774kcal
Author: Amanda Rettke--iamhomesteader.com

Ingredients

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

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.

Pasta

  • Bring a pot of salted water to boil and cook pasta 4 minutes less than the instructions on the box. (The shells will continue to cook in the oven.) Drain the noodles and let them cool enough to touch.

Filling

  • In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, romano cheese, cream cheese, garlic, salt, pepper, and basil.
  • Add mixture to a piping bag (or a zipped plastic bag).
  • Once noodles are cooled, use the piping bag to fill the individual noodles with the filling. Set aside.

Sauce

  • In a large saucepan over medium heat, add butter. Once the butter has melted, add onions and cook until translucent and fragrant (about 5 minutes).
  • Add garlic and cook 1 more minute.
  • Add sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
  • Add flour and cook 1-2 more minutes. (The mixture will thicken.)
  • Add broth, and stir, using a wooden spoon. Scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pan.
  • Add heavy cream, spinach, and parmesan cheese. Continue cooking until the spinach is wilted, or about 3-5 minutes.

Assembly

  • To a 12-inch cast-iron (or oven-safe) skillet, add 1 cup of the sauce.
  • Top the sauce with an even layer of the stuffed noodles.
  • Cover the pasta with the remaining sauce and top with mozzarella cheese. (Make sure the shells are completely coated with the sauce to prevent the pasta from getting crunchy.)
  • Bake for 10 minutes. Then, broil the shells for 2-3 minutes (watching carefully), or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.
  • Serve garnished with fresh basil.

Nutrition

Calories: 774kcal