Cheesy Stuffed Sausage and Spinach Pasta Shells
I usually get about 22-25 smaller shells since there are different size shells the yield will vary depending on the size of that you use, feel free to adjust all amounts to suit taste, I use my own marinara sauce that I keep in my freezer you may use your own favorite… the filling amounts may be doubled and you may stuff the shells place into baking dish cover and refrigerate until ready to bake, before baking top with sauce and cheese
Ingredients:
jumbo pasta shells, cooked and drained (use as many as needed and use any size)
3 cups prepared marinara sauce (or use as much as desired)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
FILLING (amounts may be doubled)
1/2 pound spicy Italian sausage links, casing removed (or use 1/2 pound bulk spicy Italian sausage meat)
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced (garlic lovers use more)
1/2 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach (cooked according to package directions then hand-squeezed dry)
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
pinch dried Italian seasoning (use only a pinch rubbed between fingers to release the flavor)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
seasoned salt or white salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste (I use seasoned salt)
Instructions:
Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
To make the filling; in a skillet cook the sausage meat with onion and garlic until not longer pink; drain fat then transfer to a bowl and cool slightly.
Add in spinch, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Italian seasoning, egg, lemon juice and Parmesan cheese; mix well to combine then season with salt and pepper.
At this point you may cover the filling mixture and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Stuff the cooked pasta shells with the sausage/spinch cheese mixture.
Place the shells into baking dish.
Drizzle the marinara sauce over the shells then sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese (you may use as much sauce and cheese as you like)
Bake uncovered for about 20-22 minutes or until just heated through and the cheese has melted.
Related posts:
- Cheesy Sausage and Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells
Spinach Ricotta Stuffed Shells
Kitten’s Spinach and Four-Cheese Manicotti
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