Eggless Ricotta Stuffed Shells with Marinara
Stuffed shells are one of those deeply satisfying comfort meals that feel like they took all day, even when they didn't. The filling here is a creamy blend of whole-milk ricotta, wilted baby spinach, mozzarella, and Parmesan — rich, herby, and just a little earthy from a pinch of nutmeg. A classic ricotta filling typically relies on eggs as a binder, but this version uses cornstarch instead, which holds everything together beautifully without changing the texture or flavor you'd expect. The from-scratch marinara — built with sliced garlic, red pepper flakes, and crushed tomatoes — simmers down into something far better than anything from a jar. Each shell gets nestled into that sauce, blanketed with more cheese, and baked until bubbling and golden at the edges. It serves four and comes together in a single baking dish, which means cleanup is mercifully easy. Finish with a scatter of fresh basil and you've got a dinner that looks genuinely impressive on the table.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the shells
- 24 jumbo pasta shells
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the marinara
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- ½ tsp sugar
- ½ tsp salt
For the filling
- 5 oz fresh baby spinach
- 2 cups whole-milk ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, thinly sliced (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the jumbo shells and 1 tbsp olive oil and cook until just shy of al dente — tender but still with a firm bite at the center, about 9 minutes (they will finish cooking in the oven). Drain, rinse briefly under cold water to stop cooking, and spread on a lightly oiled baking sheet to prevent sticking.
- 2
While the shells cook, make the marinara. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant and just beginning to turn golden at the edges, about 2 minutes — watch closely so it doesn't burn. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, add the sugar and salt, and stir to combine. Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly and the raw tomato smell mellows, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
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