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Best Three Cheese Stuffed Shells Recipe
You really can’t go wrong with a good lasagna. Rich red spaghetti sauce, Italian seasoning and lots of cheese all layered between pasta noodles… It’s heavenly! But when I feel like something EXTRA cheesy, I make these stuffed shells! They are similar to your classic lasagna, but with a triple dose of cheese and stuffed inside a jumbo pasta shell.
This Italian cheese stuffed shells is all things delicious.
What you need to make Stuffed Pasta Shells:
This delicious cheese stuffed shells recipe comes together quickly and easily. You can’t go wrong with baking stuffed shells with all the
Before you bake the shells, add more red sauce on top and extra cheese. You can never have enough cheese! After about 40 minutes in the oven, you will have an incredible Italian dinner that is sure to be a big hit! I like to serve these with a nice salad and garlic bread, and they make a beautiful presentation for guests too!
- Jumbo Pasta Shells
- Ricotta Cheese
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese
- Basil
- Italian Seasoning
- Egg
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Spaghetti Sauce
How to Make Cheese Stuffed Shells:
And this recipe really couldn’t be any simpler to make: Boil the pasta shells until just shy of al dente (I did 9 minutes). Mix together all the yummy cheeses along with some seasoning, fresh basil for color and extra flavor, and an egg to bind it all together. Then spread your favorite red sauce in the bottom of a baking dish, stuff your shells with the cheese mixture, and add them to the dish. I usually take a shortcut and use a good pasta sauce from the grocery store, but feel free to use your favorite homemade recipe too! I have a spaghetti sauce recipe with Italian sausage that is out of this world!
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta shells according to package directions for al dente, about 9 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water.
- In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella, parmesan, basil, Italian seasoning, egg, salt and pepper. Spread 3/4 of the spaghetti sauce on the bottom of a 13×9 inch baking dish.
- Spoon the cheese mixture into the pasta shells and place in the baking dish. Pour remaining spaghetti sauce over shells and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 5-10 minutes more.
What to Serve with Shell Pasta:
Stuffed shells taste great with bread warm from the oven. Serve them with buttery garlic bread or parmesan breadsticks. A crisp green salad with a zesty homemade vinaigrette is always welcome with any cheesy Italian dish like this.
More Delicious and Comforting Pasta Meals:
- Creamy Garlic Shrimp Alfredo Pasta
- Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Pasta
- Cheesy Chicken, Bacon and Broccoli Ranch Pasta
- Easy Pasta Carbonara Recipe
- Creamy Pork Carnitas Pasta
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Three Cheese Stuffed Shells Recipe
Ingredients
- 20 uncooked jumbo pasta shells
- 15 ounce container ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 Tablespoons chopped basil
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 – 26 ounce jar spaghetti sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta shells according to package directions for al dente, about 9 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water.
- In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella, parmesan, basil, Italian seasoning, egg, salt and pepper. Spread 3/4 of the spaghetti sauce on the bottom of a 13×9 inch baking dish.
- Spoon the cheese mixture into the pasta shells and place in the baking dish. Pour remaining spaghetti sauce over shells and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 5-10 minutes more.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made this dish 5 times and the basic recipe is good but there are some variations for different tastes. Try these changes:
If too mild, try adding garlic, oregano, lemon zest and/or red pepper flakes. Chili powder or paprika do not seem to have the desired results.
Spinach and mushrooms had a good result.
Adding meat did not have a good result. Meatball on the side went well.
I have made this recipe every year for a few years now-it is our favorite Italian dish and is perfect…right around the holidays when family visits. I thought you had a link for a homemade tomato sauce that I don’t see anymore. Do you still have a link for that? Thank you!
Do I need to bake these for longer if I prep them the night before and they are cold from being in the fridge?
You might try adding about 5 minutes to the cooking time at a time. Check on it often and take it out once it’s heated through!
Was good overall but a little too spicy. I’d say to cut down on the basil to 1 tablespoon since 2 tablespoons is a lot and pepper to 1/8 a teaspoon.
Excellent 😘
Amazing recipe, my picky kids even liked it! Super easy, fast. Bake some frozen meatball and served it with a salad. Definitely will be in rotation! Thank you
Meat, no meat it’s all personal preference. Another option is to serve some large meatballs or Italian sausage, (simmered in sauce), on the side if you feel the need to include meat in your meal. Either way this sounds delicious!
This was an instant hit at our dinner table. All of the boys (3) plus my forth child (husband) loved this. I quickly made my own sauces with crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, diced onion, red and yellow peppers, Worcestershire, garlic, and salt and pepper. I went to three store for the large or jumbo shells and was unable to find them:( I bought manicotti noodles instead and filled those. I cannot wait to make these again!
You used to have your pasta sauce with Italian sausage recipe on here but I can no longer find it. We love it! I’d love to have it, please!!
Hi Terry,
I do have this Italian orzo and sausage skillet or sausage tomato gnocchi. If these are not one of them, explain a little more of the ingredients and I will see what other recipes match that description.
Thanks,
Alyssa
Can you use any kind of cheese?
Yes, if you prefer a different cheese that sounds great! Let me know how it turns out!