Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella and spinach topped with a turkey meat sauce. Here's a great way to sneak spinach onto your kids' plate!
This recipe just got a makeover. Some of you may have seen this in the archives, or have even made this before, today I decided to give it a face-lift with new photos and address some issues some people had with not having enough stuffing for the shells.
These are very satisfying, three are more than enough to fill you up, or two with a salad on the side. A perfect dish if you have company as this makes a large amount, or you can bake half and freeze the rest for another night.
Thank you Julie Hamilton for sharing this recipe with Skinnytaste.
Spinach Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 9 • Serving size: 3 stuffed shells • Old Points: 7 pts • Points+: 9 pts
Calories: 360.9 • Fat: 12.8 g • Protein: 28.4 g • Carb: 34.3 g • Fiber: 3.3 g
Ingredients:
- 27 (9 oz) Barilla Jumbo Shells
- 1 cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 lb 99% lean ground turkey
- 32 oz crushed tomatoes (I used Tuttorosso)
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
- salt and pepper
- 2 cups part skim ricotta cheese
- 8 oz reduced fat mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 egg
- 16 oz package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed well
- 1/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano
Directions:
Boil water and cook shells according to package directions, make sure to make them al dente.
Meanwhile, saute onions and garlic in oil. Add turkey and salt and brown until cooked, breaking up in small pieces. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper and basil, then simmer on low, covered, about 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375°.
In a large bowl, mix together ricotta, egg, spinach, mozzarella, and parmesan.
Once shells are cooked and cool, fill each shell with (about 2 heaping tbsp) cheese mixture and place on a large baking dish, or two smaller dishes, covering the bottom of the dish with a little sauce.
Top shells with half of the sauce, cover with foil and bake 40 minutes; uncover foil and bake 5 more minutes.
Serve with additional sauce on top.























Oh my gawd - this is my favorite food. To know that this version is just 6 points... I'm in love!
ReplyDeleteOh, these look so good! I'm printing this off now, so I can put it on my menu plan for next week! Do you think they would freeze well?
ReplyDeleteI vacuum seal mine and they freeze really well.
DeleteI wonder if you could freeze this before the baking stage. Two person family - this would make way too much, but would be perfect to make ahead and freeze in portions for later.
ReplyDeleteI froze mine before baking and they were delicious!!!
DeleteMmmm....mmmmm...mouthwatering! You're the best!
ReplyDeleteThis is always a hit in my house when I make it. I make it naked without meat but I must say I love the idea of adding turkey meat to it!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure freezing them in portions would work, it's actually a great idea for making your own frozen meals. Let me know how it works out. I'm having leftovers tonight!
ReplyDelete@ Cathy, without the meat the points would be a little lower. Also a great idea for vegetarians.
ReplyDeleteYUM! Stuffed shells are the best!
ReplyDeleteNominated your blog for Lemonade Award .For detail info give a visit to my blog.
ReplyDeleteHappy blogging.
This looks SO good! Thanks Gina!
ReplyDelete:)tj
tjstestkitchen.blogspot.com
I am so excited to have just found your blog!!!!! I began WW almost 4 weeks ago and have been really struggeling finding good recipes. My mouth is drooling and my mind is going crazy with all the goodies I see here. So excited!!
ReplyDeleteThis was a FABULOUS meal. I made it last night and absolutely loved it. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I must agree. You really can't tell that the cheese is lower in fat!
ReplyDeleteThose seem so much more "cheat" like than just 6 points. Wow. I have some FF ricotta in the fridge. Think this is what I'll be making over the weekend! Yum!
ReplyDeleteI made this for dinner last night. It was so delicious! I did use the turkey and it was yummy. But, I don't think the recipe needs it (and I'm not much of a meat eater, anyway). So, next time I make these shells (and believe me, there will be a next time!) I will probably leave out the meat. Simply to cut down on the calories (in other words, so I can eat more shells!). Thanks for the awesome recipe.
ReplyDeleteWow, this is delicious! Wonderful flavor. Will be a definite repeat recipe in my kitchen. I did freeze 1/2 the batch. If I didn't have weigh in tomorrow, I would of eaten more than three. Thank you for sharing another great recipe! Carrie
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this meal and so does DH!! He actually requested it this weekend! I found the recipe very easy to follow. I did use FF cottage cheese instead of ricotta (b/c I don't like ricotta) and I used a jar sauce instead of making my own but it was delish. Three shells may not sound like a lot but they are actually quite filling. This recipe made plenty for leftovers, which I think tasted even better after sitting in the fridge overnight! Thanks again!!
ReplyDelete2 Thumbs up! It was delicious and very filling. I will definitely make again!
ReplyDeleteYummy! Yummy Yummy! I can't believe this is a WW recipe. It was do delicious. I used lean ground beef instead (i wonder if it affected the points value of the dish).Very good.
ReplyDeleteThey freeze and re-heat wonderfully!
ReplyDeleteYay, I was hoping someone actually frooze them and tasted them afterwards! Def, gonna try! [Printing recipe now] :)
ReplyDeleteI just fed two picky men-folk with this recipe and both went back for seconds (so did I). Way to go, Gina!
ReplyDeleteAh yes, I think I'm due to make this again!
ReplyDeleteOh, that looks naughty. lol
ReplyDeletewow! what a great sight- everything looks delicous! Congratulations on your new baby girl. She is beautiful
ReplyDeleteTHANKS!
ReplyDeleteMade this last night and it was a HUGE success in my house. The kids loved it and my picky eater did not even complain about the spinach in it - he gobbled it right up! This will be a staple in our house!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great recipe for sneaking spinach into your kids' diet. They don't even notice it! This is a winner in my house too.
ReplyDeleteI made this and loved it, but I was wondering if you have the points value for just the sauce. I loved the sauce by itself and am going to serve it over spagetti noodles. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGina, how many points would be in just the sauce?
ReplyDeleteI'll have to figure it out. I'm not sure off the top of my head. I'll try to get back to you tomorrow on that.
ReplyDeleteI made this tonight and it didn't seem like it made enough filling...my shells definitely didn't look as full as yours! It was good though...
ReplyDeleteThat's odd! Did you leave something out?
ReplyDeleteI have this in the oven right now. Smells delish. Although, I didn't have enough filling for all the shells either--it made about 25. Maybe my shells were bigger than yours??
ReplyDeleteThat's possible! I haven't made this in a while... I'll have to do it again and see.
ReplyDeleteI made these tonight and they were sure a hit! And yes 3 shells is plenty. I had to put it in my "make it again" WW recipes.
ReplyDeleteGreat! I'm due to make this again!
ReplyDeleteMade these for dinner tonight. They were a hit even with my 2 year old. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThese stuffed shells are awesome! Thank you for sharing so many delicious and WW friendly recipes with the world! ~Julie
ReplyDeleteCan anyone tell me if they should be frozen before baked, or after? Any advice for reheating? I am as beginner of a cook as you can get... And on my first week of ww... Can't wait to make this tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI just found your website and this recipe while searching for WW recipes. I made it tonight and it was a huge hit! I was shocked that it was so low in points and so full of flavor! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to pass on to those of you who are making this without meat: If you omit the turkey and do 10 servings this is 5.25 points/serving. I'm making it tonight. Thanks, Gina!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that info!!
ReplyDeleteGina! I live in NYC but have never looked for the shells before. Where could I find them? Thanks a lot
ReplyDeleteYou shouldn't have a problem finding them in the supermarket.
ReplyDeleteThe filling comes out to 5.75 cups, or 92 tablespoons. If you have 35 shells, then you should fill each with 2.6 tablespoons to have enough for each. It's possible a few broke when I photographed these, can't remember but this will give you a more accurate measurement. Also, it's possible different brands may be sized differently.
ReplyDeleteThis recipe is FABULOUS. I have made it with and without the meat. I also froze them in individual portions after baking. Truly satisfies my craving for Italian!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gina! You are awesome!
Made this for dinner tonight and OMG it was so delicious!!! My husband and 3 year old LOVED them. I ended up with 25 as well, but my shells were pretty full. Can't wait to make the Chicken Francese tomorrow! You have regenerated my WW journey!! THANKS
ReplyDeleteI made this last night for my husband and it was DELICIOUS!!! Thank you so much for the recipe, Gina! You're a life saver!!
ReplyDeleteI just made these and they look great. I didn't do the sauce from this recipe since I had come left over from your turkey meatball recipe from last week, so I'll use that. After all the broken shells, I got 27 shells, and used all the filling, and they don't quite look as full as yours (I also used barila). When I did out just the shell recipe on WW's recipe builder (using 27 shells) it comes out to 2 points for each shell (still amazing!) and then i'll do one point for half a cup of the sauce. Thanks for an amazing recipe!
ReplyDeleteThis was delicious and very hearty. Two men in the household enjoyed it as well. I got 33 shells. Will make again!
ReplyDeleteThese have to be the best tasting pasta dish I've ever had. I ate them for dinner all week long and never got tired of them! Haha. I was very sad when the aluminum foil started melting onto the shells and I had to throw out about 1/4 of all that I made. Either way, these will be a regular occurrence in this household!
ReplyDeleteI made this dish last night and it was perfect! Thanks for the great recipe!
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe and I made the entire thing for me and my son and then put it in freezable containers by portion. When I want this pasta I take the dish out of the freezer the night before and when I get home I pop it right in the microwave to reheat, DELISH!!!! Add a salad for a 5 min dinner!
ReplyDeletehi gina! could you convert this one? or add the nutritional info and i can convert it myself? i'd like to make it this week~looks delicious! thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Gina,
ReplyDeleteI'm going to make this to bring to a friend who's a new mom. I'm sure she'll appreciate having something easily reheatable on hand. Would you suggest I fully cook the recipe, or give it to her prior to baking and just include the instructions for baking time/temp?
Thank you!
I would give it to her prior to baking. Best gift to give new moms is a home cooked meal for the family! I really wished someone would have done that for me, you're a great friend!
ReplyDeleteI'm new to your website, and so far I love what I'm seeing and cannot wait to have a taste testing party with my friends. My only question is that I have a chunck of pecorino romano cheese, and I was wondering what would go well with it?
ReplyDeleteI've made this a few times and the whole family LOVES it!
ReplyDeleteThe first time I made it all of my shells broke when I boiled them so I just added them to the spinach/ricotta mix - and now we always have it this way. Sure beats stuffing shells - I'm lazy!
I cook from your website ALL the time. Thanks for being here!
I'm sure it's just as good that way!
ReplyDeleteAre there any substitutions you can make for any of your recipes using pecorino romano cheese?
ReplyDeleteSure, use Parmesan cheese if you prefer.
ReplyDeleteHi Gina,
ReplyDeleteThis looks very yummy! :)
Will it still be 8 pts per 3 shells if I leave out the turkey?
Thanks.
It would be less, I just don't have those numbers. Plug it into recipe builder when you can.
ReplyDeleteHi Gina!!
ReplyDeleteI made this last night and it was delish. I asked my 11 y.o son what he thought and he says, "What, what did you say mom, this is so good that I spaced out!" LOL
Ana, lol!!
ReplyDeleteThis was VERY good. I made with ground chicken breast. I used sweet basil and added 3 packets of splenda to have a little sweeter sauce for a change up. It was soooooo good. Gonna try freezing a couple serving to see how it fares...
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love this dish! I trick I learned is to NOT boil the noodles. Make it ahead of time and cover it in all the sauce. Cover, and put in the fridge while you are at work, or for at least four hours. Perfect pasta without trying to wrangle with wet, slippery noodles!
ReplyDeleteAlso, putting the cheese mixture into a baggie and snipping off a tiny piece of the corner makes filling the shells a breeze. You just stick the open corner of the baggie into the shell and squeeze.
Thanks for sharing your tip!
ReplyDeleteThis is my first recipe I've made from your website and it was wonderful! I even made my fiance try it who HATES spinach and before he knew there was spinach he loved it(after not so much)! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this recipe. It's both fun and easy. I entertained five people with this entree and still had leftovers.
ReplyDeleteANOTHER hit of a recipe!! It does take some time for prep so not a recipe to use in a rush....but really worth it! Only change I made was that I made it with a jar of tomato basil pasta sauce that I had already opened so I just added a can of tomato sauce to that.....along with fresh basil! It's one of those recipes you can do that and still have it taste awesome.
ReplyDeleteI do think the secret to the cheese mixture for the shells is to use real Parmesan or Parmesan Reggiano and not the dried stuff shaken from the can. But then I think that of any Italian recipe. :)
Both my husband and son have requested I keep this recipe in the "favorites" file. THANKS GINA!!
Lynne, I couldn't agree with you more!! That other stuff is aweful, I would never buy it.
ReplyDeleteMade this last night and it came out really tasty! Mine were a little drier sauce-wise than yours, but that was because I only had a 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes and didn't bother to open another. Still great though! I also reserved some of the shredded mozz and sprinkled it on top during the last 5 minutes of uncovered baking for that gooey deliciousness. I calculated 4 shells at 11pp+, which is perfect for dinner in my opinion!
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely be making this again, but may put a twist on it by substituting mushrooms for the spinach and making the sauce a little spicier - arrabiata style (Trader Joe's makes a great one) for an extra kick. Thanks and can't wait to try another recipe!
Gina
ReplyDeleteDo you have the calories for this recipe?
Thank you!!
i was also wondering if you had the calorie breakdown for this
ReplyDelete184 calories per serving per MyFitnessPal recipe builder
ReplyDeleteI made this for my fam (I'm a teenager, not a mom!) and it was DE-lish! We used fat free ricotta cheese (which lowered calories but not the taste!) and used san giorgio jumbo shells which made 42 shells and had plenty of stuffing. We also didn't use the turkey and each shell came out to 68 calories! Thanks so much for this amazing recipe!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice teenager you are! Glad you all liked it!
ReplyDeletehow many calories would a serving size be?
ReplyDeleteGood question! I'm going to re-make these next week and re-calculate, the photos are terrible! :)
ReplyDeleteGina - I have started to try some of your recipes this week and they have all been wonderful! I just finished cleaning up after this meal and I had to leave a comment. We sat down to dinner and my hubby took a look at his plate, but didn't say anything, then he took a bite and he got this little grin on his face and says to me "Nope, this one is definitely NOT weight watchers!" I about died laughing trying to convince him that yes, it was! While he was on his second plate I asked him if he minded the spinach... "what spinach???" LOL!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the awesome keeper and a fun night at the dinner table!
Gina - Was wondering about the size can you used for the sauce recipe. I can get Tuttorosso in my grocery stores but only find either a 28 oz. can or 35 oz. can - not 32 oz. Which you say I should use? Should I just take 3 oz out of the 35 oz can and do that? Just want to make sure I get it right :)!! Can't wait to make this!!
ReplyDeleteExtra sauce is never a problem, but not enough would be sonyse the larger one!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gina! Just put them together now and can't wait to try. I did use the Barilla shells but only was able to fill 20 of them, at 2 TBSP per shell....hmmmmm. Can't wait to eat them though - they look and smell fantastic!
ReplyDeleteHey Christine, just made them over. The filling should make 4 1/3 cups, or about 68 tbsp so there should be plenty of filling.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this recipe! I make an almost the same version but use the ready cook cannelloni shells. You don't have to boil them and you can stuff them when they are hard and they just cook in the oven. I freeze it in smaller portion sizes for my husband and I. When we want it, we just thaw it and book! Voila!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gina for the amazing recipes. I just stumbled on your site and have been telling all of my friends!!
Oh, this looks fantastic! I am vegetarian, so I will be making this with your Skinnytaste Marinara Sauce Gina. I know I sound like a broken record, but I LOVE you and your recipes Gina. You rock girl!! : )
ReplyDeleteIs there a good substitute for ricotta/cottage cheese (I don't like the texture)?
ReplyDeleteThese are also really good when you substitute Portabello mushroom caps for the pasta shells. Roast the caps in the oven @ 400 while you make everything else. Drain any liquid in the caps, spoon some sauce into caps, add cheese mixture and more sauce and return to oven until hot and bubbly.
ReplyDeleteI looove the stuffed shells! So tasty sounding!
ReplyDeleteMade this tonight, my 10 and 11 yo gobbled it up! would be even lighter w fat free cottage cheese instead of ricotta and would not taste any different (although I used the ricotta) Loved it! New to your blog, Thank you!! it's a real find!
ReplyDeleteLove anything italian, and anything involving spinach, ricotta and tomatoes will definitely be a hit in my house. Thanks for posting this!!
ReplyDeleteThis recipe is sheer "comfort food" but with a healthy spin! Have a lot of swiss chard in the garden; do you think I could substitute for the spinach??
ReplyDeleteI like the portabello mushroom idea, I must try that!!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Sarah!
Swiss chard would be great :)
These look great Gina. Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteI used to make a very similar recipe... but haven't made it in a while. Thanks for reminding me!
ReplyDeleteI have been making these for years! A couple of things I do differently: I don't add meat to the sauce -- so it is a vegetarian dish, I also do not add an egg to the filling. These two changes saves fat and calories!
ReplyDeleteThis dish was wonderful, I had all the ingredients to make it last night. I did it without the meat sauce, used your Quick Marinara sauce. Delicious!
ReplyDeleteGina, I noticed that you said this would freeze well. Any chance you could list other recipes of yours that also freeze well? Maybe a link on your "Recipes Index" page? I'm 5 weeks from the end of my second pregnancy and would like to make and freeze some meals for after baby's birth. I'm pretty sure dinner will be take-out or really boring, otherwise. Please help, if you can. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWow! These look fabulous, definitely a healthy, comforting meal for Fall.
ReplyDeleteThis looks outstanding! Makes me so hungry right now! Think I'll make this for dinner!
ReplyDeleteI made this tonight. I love this recipe and will be putting it in my normal rotation. Thanks for revising/reposting this one
ReplyDeleteHi Gina,
ReplyDeleteWhat would you suggest in place of the Jumbo Shells?? We dont have them here in Australia.
Mmm, comfort food... Perfect for the cooler fall weather! My momma never used to make stuffed shells so it was always a treat whenever I would go over to my friends house for dinner because her mom made the best ones :D
ReplyDeleteI switch it up sometimes and use marinara sauce instead as well, lowers the points and makes it meatless.
ReplyDeleteNo pasta shells in Australia?? You could use lasagna noodles and roll the stuffing in the noodle or use manicotti shells. If you can't find manicotti, I have a recipe for crespelles.
Mmmmm...love this dish. I mix turkey sausage in with the stuffing and leave the sauce meatless. Delightful! I don't count points but I can't imagine it's many more than what's listed.
ReplyDeleteGina the photo is amazing! it just jumps off my screen - can't wait for cool weather to try these!!
ReplyDeleteTerri
Just made this for my family and ALL 5 kids (and hubby) loved it! That's hard to pull off most days ;) Delish!
ReplyDeleteI love this recipe. I make it often for my WW daughter who lives four hours away. I make up the sauce, cool it, and put it in ice cube trays to freeze. Then I package 3 prepared shells in a baggy and drop in 3 frozen sauce cubes. She heats them in the microwave and it gives her a yummy and quick dinner.
ReplyDeleteThese were great! My 21 month old that usually hates anything with spinach devoured these! I made extra of the sauce and glad I did. It was very good. My husband had 10 shells in one sitting.
ReplyDeleteI made these tonight and LOVED THEM!!! I added shredded carrots to the spinach/ricotta filling and also added a bit of pesto from trader joe's. Thanks for the great recipe!!!
ReplyDeleteMade these last night and they were a hit with me and my husband. I didn't use the ground turkey. Lots of flavor and very satisfying. Have lots of leftovers in the freezer for lunches.
ReplyDeleteMade this last night and it was AMAZING!! I added a good bit of italian seasoning to the tomatoes for more flavor. I had a good bit of sauce left, so now I have sauce for spaghetti. I think this is my favorite recipe from you so far!!!
ReplyDeleteI was just reading a lot of people freeze the extras because it does make quiet a bit, would you recommend freezing before or after you cooked them? Can't wait to try them!
ReplyDeleteI wondered the same thing.. Here's what I found on the National Pasta Association website "Freezing Pasta: The best pasta shapes for freezing are those that are used in baked recipes, such as: lasagne, jumbo shells, ziti and manicotti. You'll have better results if you prepare the recipe and freeze it before baking. To bake, thaw the dish to room temperature and bake as the recipe directs."
DeleteI have never tried it, but I will be trying it tonight with these. I will bake some and freeze the rest! :)
I made this tonight and my roommates and I really enjoyed it. Though I do agree with another comment, I felt it would be just as good without the turkey in the sauce! Filling and delicious!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this recipe! My three yr old was begging for more!! Would you recommend freezing extras before or after cooking? And do know of any whole wheat jumbo shells? Thanks again, Diana
ReplyDeleteI made these last night, but what I've learned from a friend of mine who had made these before is that the best method to freezing these is to put them in the pan WITHOUT the sauce (so just the shells stuffed with the filling) and then freeze them. When you're ready to eat, defrost them, and then when you're ready to cook, make the sauce pour some on top, put them in the oven, cook like normal, and then top with more sauce to your preference when they're done. they come out EXCELLENT! love them!
ReplyDeleteHi Gina!
ReplyDeleteI have a question I'm hoping you can answer. It entails figuring out the math for a homemade vegan ricotta cheese, as I couldn't find any ANYWHERE. I found a recipe that is made from tofu, olive oil, garlic, and herbs. It's a large portion, and I just cannot seem to figure out how it will affect the point value of your recipe that's 9 pts. 32 oz. of the tofu plus the half cup of olive oil for the recipe is 48 pts. Your 9 pt. recipe uses 16 oz. of part skim ricotta. Seeing as that's half the vegan ricotta recipe = 24 pts. for the whole recipe. But seeing that I don't know the other individual points that make up your recipe, I'm having a hard time. I know it might be a lot of work for you to figure it out, but I am hoping it won't be since your such a pro at this. Please get back to me as soon as you have a moment, as I'm making the recipe tonight and freezing it, but I would like to eat it soon :)
Thank you so much!
Amy
Hi Amy,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, I don't know how it effects the points, you could plug the changes into recipe builder.
Another winner Gina! Flavor was awesome and my 10-year-old had some too, which is quite a compliment to you! My sauce was thicker than yours in the picture- I may use less turkey next time or more tomatoes. Loved this! And I love how you have photos of each step! Thank you! ~Amy :)
ReplyDeleteSo amazing! My whole family loved them.
ReplyDeleteThey are in the oven right now! Can't wait to eat them!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this recipe! I tried it out the other night for company... and it was AMAZING. http://eleventhfloorview.com/2011/11/02/spinach-stuffed-shells-with-meat-sauce/
ReplyDeleteShowed my mom this recipe and she made it for dinner last night it was amazing. Thank you for sharing all of your recipes. The points help also since I do WW
ReplyDeleteWe made this for Christmas Eve, and it was a big hit. I used 20 ounces of spinach (two boxes), and filled 25 shells. Three shells was a nice serving size, served with mixed vegetables, a salad, and garlic bread. We'll definitely make this again. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLove these. I have made them twice once with meat and once without. A hit either way. Also I made a double batch and froze prior to baking. Tasted just as good as the fresh version.
ReplyDeleteI made this last night for some friends of mine, and everybody LOVED it. Since none of us are on WW, I didn't mind straying a little from the recipe. I used turkey Italian sausage instead of turkey and added an extra egg to the ricotta mixture, since it seemed really dry. My friends asked for the recipe so they can make it this week for themselves!
ReplyDeleteThis was amazing! I made this for dinner on Saturday night and we (there are only two of us) have had enough leftovers for a long time! :) Unfortunately, my grocery store was out of Ricotta, so I substituted 4-blend Italian cheese and it came out JUST fine. Again, my husband loved this and devoured it instantly!
ReplyDeleteI have made these many times. They are delicious. I fill all of the shells and then place them on a cookie sheet and stick them in the freezer for a few hours until the shells are individually frozen. Then I place all of the shells in a bag. I usually freeze the sauce in small 4-6 oz containers. This allows me to take a a single serving or anywhere in between. Happy cooking and eating.
ReplyDeleteThe filling was amazing! I was a bit lazy and just used bottled pasta sauce with onion and garlic flavor. Still tasted perfect. My partner even asked for seconds :)
ReplyDeleteFor a non dairy version, one can swap the ricotta for firm tofu. I do it all the time because my husband does not process dairy well and it turns out great. Thanks for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteI used chopped up fresh spinach instead because we have a great Market here in Cleveland that sells awesome priced produce and it turned out great! :)
ReplyDeleteFreezing Tip!! I have read in numerous places that you should freeze pasta dishes before you bake them, then thaw in the fridge before you bake them.
ReplyDeleteHere's was is on the National Pasta Association website "Freezing Pasta: The best pasta shapes for freezing are those that are used in baked recipes, such as: lasagne, jumbo shells, ziti and manicotti. You'll have better results if you prepare the recipe and freeze it before baking. To bake, thaw the dish to room temperature and bake as the recipe directs."
This recipe sounds awesome and I can't wait to make it tonight. I will be baking and eating some and freezing the rest!
This recipe was so good! I used ground beef instead of turkey, cottage cheese instead of ricotta, and fresh spinach (I wilted first). Very very good!
ReplyDeleteHi Gina,I made this last night and I have a ton of leftovers. It will be sitting in the fridge all day. What is the best way to re-heat these for tonight?
ReplyDeleteI know this might be a silly question, but I am just starting to learn how to cook and I love all the recipes that are on here but I don't know what temperature to put the oven at when it comes to baking. All of the recipes say to bake for a certain amount of time but is there a particular temperature?!?! I need help! :)
ReplyDeleteIts in the directions...Look again
Delete"Preheat oven to 375°....., cover with foil and bake 40 minutes; uncover foil and bake 5 more minutes."
This was fantastic! It made soooo much! I only changed one thing. My husband swears he doesn't like ricotta cheese even tho he unknowingly eats it all the time. So I used 1 cup of ricotta cheese & half a block of fat free cream cheese. My husband & kids LOVED it! And they're hard to please! I will def be making this again!
ReplyDeleteThis is my second time making this recipe and I used a very helpful tip from my 16 year old son - I used my cake decorating bag with a thick nozzle to fill the shells and it worked fantastically. No mess!
ReplyDeleteI made a very similar recipe from Pinterest. I can't wait to try this healthier variation. My husband likes a little kick to his food, so I'll probably add some red pepper flakes & maybe some hot sauce to this for a little extra somethin'. The filling is pretty much the same as the other recipe I have & it was easy to take a spoon & put it in the shells. Thanks for this healthy make over!
ReplyDeleteI made this recipe yesterday and my husband & 4 year old could not stop raving over how delicious this was, especially my 4 year old! This is definitely going on my list of regular meals, which is full of other skinnytaste recipes. My family & I love your site!
ReplyDeleteOk silly question when you say 8 ounces is that by weight or cup I usually go by weight when you say it.
ReplyDeleteGina, for the 9 points plus serving, how much sauce is included with the three shells? 1/2 a cup, etc?
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to make these tonight! Love all the suggestions for freezing.
Thanks all of your amazing recipes!
Whoa! I made the shells but there was a ton of filling leftover. I squished in as much as I could in each shell, but there was still so much left.
Delete16 oz. seemed like a lot of spinach. Did you possibly meant 10 oz?
Can't wait for them to come out of the oven! :-)