Description
Creamy Sausage and Spinach Stuffed Shells is a comforting Italian-American baked pasta dish featuring jumbo pasta shells filled with a savory mixture of Italian sausage, cream cheese, fresh spinach, and herbs. Topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella, this hearty casserole is perfect for a family dinner and ready in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 6 ounces dried jumbo pasta shells (about 1/2 box)
Filling
- 1.5 pounds Italian sausage (mild or hot)
- 1 onion, diced
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 4 garlic cloves, pressed
- 8 ounces fresh spinach, chopped
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley
Toppings
- 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven. Preheat your oven to 350˚F (175˚C) to prepare for baking the stuffed shells later.
- Cook Pasta Shells. Boil the jumbo pasta shells according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside to cool slightly.
- Brown Sausage and Onion. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, then add the Italian sausage and diced onion. Cook until the sausage is browned and no longer pink, and the onion is softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Prepare Filling. Stir in cream cheese, grated parmesan, and pressed garlic into the browned sausage mixture. Continue stirring until the cream cheese melts and the mixture becomes creamy and well combined.
- Add Greens and Herbs. Mix in chopped fresh spinach and fresh parsley, cooking just until the spinach wilts. Stir well to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
- Assemble the Casserole. Spread half of the marinara sauce over the bottom of a 9x13 inch casserole dish to create a flavorful base.
- Stuff Pasta Shells. Spoon the creamy sausage and spinach filling into each cooked pasta shell, then arrange them filling-side up in the prepared casserole dish on top of the sauce.
- Add Sauce and Cheese. Pour the remaining marinara sauce evenly over the stuffed shells, then sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
- Bake. Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and the dish is heated through.
- Serve. Allow to cool slightly before serving warm as a hearty and delicious main course.
Notes
- Use mild or hot Italian sausage based on your preferred spice level.
- For a lighter version, substitute part-skim mozzarella and reduce the amount of cream cheese.
- Can prepare in advance, assemble, cover, and refrigerate before baking.
- Fresh spinach can be substituted with frozen, thawed and drained, if necessary.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and reheat in the oven or microwave.
