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Garlic Butter Stuffed Shells

A quick and flavorful recipe for stuffed pasta shells filled with a creamy ricotta mixture and bathed in garlic butter sauce, perfect for busy evenings.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the filling
  • 2 cups ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese plus extra for topping
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
For the pasta
  • 12 large pasta shells to be cooked according to package instructions
For the garlic butter sauce
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
For garnish
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley optional

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cook until al dente, then drain and set aside.
  3. In a bowl, mix the ricotta, 1 cup of mozzarella, Parmesan, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Stuffing and Baking
  1. Spoon the cheese mixture into each cooked shell. Place the stuffed shells in a greased baking dish, open side up.
  2. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the remaining minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Pour the garlic butter sauce over the stuffed shells.
  3. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
  4. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

Notes

You can prep these shells a day before and keep them covered in the fridge. Add extra baking time if baking from cold. Feel free to add spinach or mushrooms for added nutrition.