Vegetarian Skillet Stuffed Shells: Cheesy, Hearty, One-Pan Wonder
These vegetarian stuffed shells are filled with creamy ricotta, spinach, and herbs, simmered in marinara, and topped with gooey melted mozzarella—all in one skillet. It’s a quick, no-fuss dinner that feels like a hug in a bowl.
🥕 Ingredients
- 18 jumbo pasta shells
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
🔥 Instructions
Boil the Shells: Cook the jumbo shells in salted boiling water until just shy of al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Set aside.
Prepare the Filling: In a bowl, mix the ricotta, spinach, Parmesan, egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until well combined.
Stuff the Shells: Fill each shell with the ricotta-spinach mixture using a spoon or piping bag.
Build the Skillet Base: Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Sauté garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant, then pour in the marinara sauce and bring to a simmer.
Add the Shells: Nestle the stuffed shells into the sauce in a single layer.
Top and Bake: Sprinkle mozzarella over the shells. Cover and cook on the stove over low heat for 10–15 minutes, or transfer to a 375°F oven and bake uncovered for about 20 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Serve and Garnish: Let cool slightly, then garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.
📦 Amazon Must-Haves to Help You Create the Best Vegetarian Skillet Stuffed Shells
- 🍳 Oven-Safe Cast Iron Skillet — Great for stovetop-to-oven dishes like this one—holds heat beautifully.
- 🥄 Jumbo Pasta Shells — Make sure you have the right size shells to hold all that creamy filling.
- 🧀 Ricotta Cheese Strainer or Cheesecloth — Helps drain your ricotta for a firmer, richer filling.
- 🍅 Italian Seasoning Blend — Adds authentic flavor to the filling without fussing with individual herbs.
- 🧄 Garlic Press — Get finely minced garlic in seconds—no sticky fingers.
💡 Helpful Tip: Want to make it ahead? Assemble the whole dish, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Perfect for meal prep or entertaining without stress!