Classic Cheese Pasta Shells

KrystelAugust 17, 2023

DifficultyEasy

Servings4

Savor the Richness: Classic Cheese Pasta Shells Delight

Introduction to Classic Cheese Pasta Shells

Hey there! I'm beyond thrilled to share with you one of my all-time cherished dishes - Classic Cheese Pasta Shells. Now, if there's one thing that gets me excited, it's the divine blend of cheeses that melt so harmoniously with perfectly cooked pasta. Each shell, coated with its rich, creamy filling, wraps you in a comfort that only home-cooked meals provide.

Imagine pulling a dish out of the oven, filled with jumbo pasta shells that have been lovingly stuffed with a mixture of ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese, each bite inviting you into a world of creamy, cheesy goodness. This is not just a recipe; it's a heartwarming experience, a dish that brings people together and turns a simple meal into a memorable feast. From the first forkful, the classic cheese pasta shells promise a journey through a landscape of textures and flavors, making it a perfect dish for any night of the week. 

Key Takeaways:

• Rich and Creamy: A blend of ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese creates a sumptuous filling for the pasta shells. 
• Comfort Food Classic: These cheese-stuffed shells offer a comforting embrace, making them a beloved dish for family dinners. 
• Mealtime Favorite: Perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions, this dish is sure to delight your taste buds and warm your heart. 

Ingredients Overview

Gathering the right ingredients is like assembling a team of superheroes - each brings its own unique power to the dish. For our Classic Cheese Pasta Shells delight, you'll need:

• Jumbo pasta shells - the sturdy vessels waiting to be filled with cheesy goodness. 
• Ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese - a trinity of cheeses that create a creamy, stretchy, and flavorful filling. 
• Fresh herbs like basil and parsley, along with garlic powder and black pepper, infuse our cheese mixture with aromatic warmth and depth. 
• Olive oil and a large pot of salted water to cook the pasta shells to al dente perfection, ensuring they're firm enough to hold their shape but tender enough to yield easily to each bite. 
• Last but not least, tomato sauce envelopes our stuffed shells in a zesty embrace, completing the symphony of flavors. 

Preparation Before Cooking

Before we dive into the kitchen’s symphony of flavors with our Classic Cheese Pasta Shells, let's pave the way for a flawless cooking experience. Preheating the oven is the first step to embrace, setting it to a cozy warm ambiance. It's crucial for ensuring our pasta shells will have the perfect environment to turn into that golden delight. Meanwhile, the stage for our jumbo pasta shells begins with a large pot of salted water, seasoned with a dash of olive oil.

This isn’t just any water; think of it as the spa where our shells get to loosen up - a touch of salt and olive oil makes all the difference in enhancing the pasta’s texture and flavor. It’s these little things, like using cold water to halt the cooking process at just the right moment, that elevate a simple meal to a memorable feast. So, let’s get our pots ready and our ovens humming; it’s time to cook up some love!

Cooking the Pasta Shells

I always say the heart of this dish lies in the perfection of cooking those jumbo pasta shells. Picture this: a large pot of salted water, bubbling on the stove, ready to cradle our pasta shells into al dente perfection. And there's me, ensuring every shell dances in the boiling water just long enough to become tender, yet firm enough to hold that creamy cheese filling we talked about. Now, here's a little trick I've picked up along the way - plunging the cooked shells into cold water. Why, you ask? It stops the cooking process right in its tracks, ensuring each shell is stopped at that perfect bite, ready to be stuffed. It's a simple step, but oh, it makes all the difference. Bringing these shells to just the right texture is what turns this dish from good to unforgettable. 

Mixing the Cheese Filling

Jumping right into the heart of our comfort food classic, mixing the cheese filling conjures the true magic behind these savory Classic Cheese Pasta Shells. Here's how you do it: first, grab a large bowl – this is where the magic begins. Now, imagine the rich, creamy blend as you add in ricotta cheese, that lovely base cheese known for its delicate texture and slightly sweet flavor. Next, toss in the mozzarella cheese, with its beautiful melt and stretch, along with the sharp, nutty essence of parmesan cheese.

But wait, we're not just about cheese here. To infuse every bite with character, sprinkle in a mix of herbs and seasonings - perhaps a dash of Italian seasoning, a hint of lemon zest for a fresh twist, or even some red pepper flakes for those who dare to add a bit of spice. The key here is to blend everything together gently until each shell promises a bite of what dreams are made of. There you have it, a cheese mixture that’s ready to elegantly grace the al dente jumbo pasta shells lying in wait. 

Filling and Assembling the Shells

So, we've reached the exciting part! Stuffing these shells felt like I was putting a little piece of love into each one. I grabbed a spoon and generously filled each al dente shell with the creamy, rich cheese mixture I had prepared. It's a blend of ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan, seasoned perfectly with Italian herbs. Thinking about the flavors made my taste buds dance in anticipation. Each shell, cradling the creamy filling, was then tenderly placed seam side up in the greased casserole dish. I took a moment, admiring the neat rows, feeling a bit like an artist with my canvas. Then, with a sprinkle of anticipation, I poured the homemade tomato sauce all over, ensuring each shell was kissed by the zesty marinara. It was almost too beautiful to cover up, but I knew what was coming next would bring it all together. 

Baking to Golden Perfection

The key lies in both the baking time and temperature. Set your oven to a cozy 350°F, ready to envelope these cheese-filled delights in its warm embrace. Now, imagine each shell, snuggled next to its brethren, waiting patiently under a blanket of rich, creamy sauce and a generous sprinkle of mozzarella cheese. But here's where the patience gets tested—bake them for about 20-25 minutes. You're looking for that mesmerizing golden brown hue on top, a sign that the cheese has melted and crisped just right, hinting at the creamy wonders beneath. A simple trick to add even more allure? Scatter a touch more cheese on top during the last few minutes of baking, ensuring each shell is adorned with a beautifully golden crown, promising every bite to be a cheesy, comforting embrace. 

Serving Suggestions and Storage

After savoring the cheesy goodness of these Classic Cheese Pasta Shells, why not round off the meal with some crispy garlic bread or a fresh green salad? These sides not only complement the rich flavors but also bring a delightful contrast to your plate. And if by some miracle there are leftovers, don't fret. Packing them up in an airtight container or a freezer bag ensures you can relive this delicious experience all over again. Whether you enjoy it the next day or a month from now, it'll taste as fabulous as it did straight out of the oven. 

A Symphony of Flavors Awaiting Your Taste Buds

And there we have it - a journey through creating what I believe to be the epitome of comfort in a dish: Classic Cheese Pasta Shells. From selecting the perfect jumbo pasta shells, mixing that heavenly cheese mixture involving generous amounts of ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese, to achieving that golden brown perfection after a carefully timed bake, every step was a dance of flavors and aromas that filled my kitchen, promising something divine. Let’s not forget the joy of watching the shells emerge from the oven, enveloped in that beautiful, zesty marinara sauce, sending wafts of Italian seasoning and fresh basil through the air. 

My dear reader, if you’re looking for a sign to dive into the world of cooking with these kinds of cheese, let this be it. Picture your dinner table adorned with a casserole dish brimming with these cheesy delights, accompanied with maybe a side of garlic bread or a nice salad, turning your weeknight dinner into a special occasion. And for those of you who love to plan ahead, remember how well these shells fare in the freezer, ensuring a great recipe is just a thaw away. 

So, I urge you, grab that large bowl, gather your cheeses, and dive into this symphony of flavors. Let your taste buds be your guide, and remember, whether it’s for a cozy family dinner or impressing that special someone, these Classic Cheese Pasta Shells won’t just feed stomachs; they’ll warm hearts and possibly win you the title of the best chef in the family. Trust me, your culinary journey starts with this simple but exquisite dish. Happy cooking!

If you love pasta check out my Easy Baked Tortellini recipe!

Ricotta Stuffed Shells With Meat Sauce

Indulge in Culinary Bliss with Baked Ricotta Stuffed Pasta Shells and Meat Marinara Prepare for a dining experience that’s nothing short of exceptional – our Baked Ricotta Stuffed Pasta Shells paired with a rich, savory meat marinara sauce. Imagine delicate pasta shells cradling a luxurious filling of creamy ricotta cheese, baked to perfection.

5 from 14 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: ground beef, meat sauce, pasta, shells

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 1 jar of chunky pasta sauce
• Pasta:
• 18 jumbo shells with a few extras
• Salt and black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• Ricotta Filling:
• 15 oz whole milk ricotta cheese
• 8 oz shredded Mozzarella cheese keep ½ cup reserved for topping
• ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon minced basil
• 1 tablespoon minced parsley
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• Salt to taste
• black pepper to taste
• 1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic
• Topping:
• Dry oregano
• 1 ½ cups Mozzarella cheese

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
• While cooking the pasta, add some extra flavor to the water. This recipe makes about 18 stuffed shells, but be sure to cook 2-3 extra shells to account for any potential breakage.
• Cook the jumbo shell pasta according to the package instructions until it reaches an al dente texture. It's advisable to slightly undercook the shells since they'll continue to cook in the oven.
• Once cooked, drain the pasta and set it aside to cool down enough for handling.
• Prparing the Ricotta Filling: While the pasta is cooking, you can start preparing the filling. In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, herbs, pressed garlic, Parmesan cheese, Mozzarella cheese, and seasoning. Utilize a fork to blend all the ingredients thoroughly until they are evenly incorporated. Reserve around ⅓ cup of shredded Mozzarella to use for topping.
• Adding Ground Beef to the Sauce: To enrich the flavors further, consider adding cooked ground beef to the marinara sauce. Brown the ground beef in a separate pan, then mix it into the marinara sauce before spreading it in the baking dish.
• The Baking Process:
• Evenly spread approximately 3 cups of the beef-enriched marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
• Fill each shell with about 1.5-2 tablespoons of the ricotta filling and position them in the baking dish. To prevent any filling from spilling out, ensure the shells are seam side up.
• Sprinkle some Mozzarella cheese and oregano over each shell, then bake for around 20-25 minutes until the cheese melts and achieves a delightful golden hue.
• Prepare to indulge in the savory goodness of your stuffed shells, now enhanced with the rich flavors of the homemade sauce and the addition of delicious ground beef.