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Easy Christmas Stuffed Shells

Easy Christmas Stuffed Shells: A Festive Cheesy Delight

Easy Christmas Stuffed Shells are a delightful festive dish, blending creamy spinach and cheese in jumbo pasta shells, perfect for holiday feasts.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta
  • 12 pieces Jumbo Pasta Shells
For the Filling
  • 4 cups Fresh Spinach Can use frozen spinach
  • 15 ounces Ricotta Cheese Cottage cheese is a lighter alternative
  • 1 cup Pecorino Cheese Can substitute with Parmesan
  • 2 cloves Garlic Minced; garlic powder can be used
  • 1 teaspoon Oregano Italian seasoning can be a substitute
  • 1 teaspoon Lemon Zest Lime zest can also be used
  • 1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes Omit for a milder dish
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
For the Marinara Layer
  • 2 cups Marinara Sauce Homemade or store-bought

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • saucepan
  • large pot
  • Mixing Bowl

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions for Easy Christmas Stuffed Shells
  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. Steam fresh spinach in a saucepan over simmering water for about 1 minute until wilted. Chop finely and set aside.
  3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the jumbo pasta shells for about 10 minutes until al dente, drain, and drizzle with olive oil to prevent sticking.
  4. In a medium bowl, combine chopped spinach, ricotta cheese, pecorino cheese, minced garlic, oregano, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly.
  5. Spread marinara sauce evenly across the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  6. Fill each cooked pasta shell with the spinach and cheese mixture and place in the baking dish seam-side up.
  7. Cover the dish with foil and bake for about 20 minutes.
  8. Remove from oven, let sit for a few minutes, and serve hot with extra marinara sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 18gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 400mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1200IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 300mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Stuffed shells can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge or freezer for convenience.

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