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Overhead view of a baking dish filled with golden cheesy chicken and spinach stuffed shells recipe on a white marble counter, rustic and homemade style.

Chicken and Spinach Stuffed Shells Recipe

A creamy, cheesy Italian-inspired comfort food made with jumbo pasta shells stuffed with chicken, spinach, ricotta, and mozzarella, baked in marinara sauce until golden.
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Course: Casserole, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Resting Time (for filling): 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 420kcal
Cost: $15

Equipment

  • 1 Large Stock Pot For boiling pasta shells
  • 1 9x13 baking dish Best if glass or ceramic
  • 1 Large mixing bowl For combining filling
  • 1 Slotted spoon For lifting pasta shells
  • 1 Aluminum foil To cover while baking
  • 1 Small Scoop/Spoon For filling pasta shells

Ingredients

  • 1 box (12 oz) Jumbo pasta shells Boil until al dente
  • 1 tablespoon Salt For boiling water
  • 2 tablespoon Olive oil For pasta & baking dish
  • 2 cups Cooked chicken Shredded or diced
  • 2 cups Fresh spinach Chopped (or 1 cup frozen, thawed & drained)
  • 15 oz Ricotta cheese Full-fat preferred
  • 1.5 cups Mozzarella cheese Divided (½ cup in filling, 1 cup topping)
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese Grated
  • 1 large Egg Lightly beaten
  • 2 cloves Garlic Minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning Dried
  • 0.5 teaspoon Salt For filling
  • 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper Ground
  • 2 cups Marinara sauce Divided
  • 0.25 cup Fresh basil Optional garnish

Instructions

  • Cook pasta shells until al dente, drain, and cool on a tray with a drizzle of olive oil.
  • Mix chicken, spinach, ricotta, ½ cup mozzarella, parmesan, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until combined.
  • Spread 1 cup marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish.
  • Fill each pasta shell with about 2 tablespoons of the mixture and place into the dish.
  • Top with remaining marinara sauce and sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
  • Cover with foil and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25 minutes, then uncover and bake 10–15 minutes more until golden and bubbly.
  • Let rest for 5 minutes, garnish with fresh basil, and serve hot.

Notes

  • Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Nutrition

Serving: 250g | Calories: 420kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 820mg | Potassium: 580mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2800IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 360mg | Iron: 2.5mg