These garlic hen stuffed shells are a type of reliable, satisfying dinners you’ll come again to many times. They’re creamy, tacky, loaded with taste, and surprisingly easy to arrange. Crammed with garlicky ricotta, hen, and spinach, then baked in marinara sauce, that is a straightforward crowd-pleaser that works simply as effectively for busy weeknights because it does for informal entertaining.
If there’s one factor I really like simply as a lot as baking, it’s a comforting, reliable dinner that feels a little bit particular however doesn’t require a ton of fuss. These garlic hen stuffed shells test each field. They’re hearty, flavorful, family-friendly, and excellent for all the things from a quiet weeknight to an informal dinner with associates.
Every jumbo pasta shell is crammed with a creamy ricotta combination loaded with garlic, tender hen, and recent spinach, then nestled into marinara sauce and baked. The flavors are traditional and acquainted, however the garlic and Italian seasoning give all the things a little bit additional oomph. Assume cozy Italian-American consolation meals—the sort that makes your kitchen scent unimaginable and ensures empty plates!
Why You’ll Love These Stuffed Shells
- Make-ahead pleasant: Assemble earlier within the day and bake when prepared.
- Nice use for leftover hen: Rotisserie hen works fantastically right here.
- Balanced and satisfying: Creamy filling, savory sauce, and simply sufficient cheese.
Seize These Elements
- Jumbo Pasta Shells: You’ll want about 32 jumbo shells. I initially cooked a full 12-ounce field, however that was too many shells and we had 19 leftover as soon as all the things was crammed. If you wish to keep away from extras, cook dinner nearer to 7–8 ounces, or depend out 32 shells earlier than boiling, and save the remainder of the field for one more time.
- Olive Oil: For sautéing the garlic and spinach.
- Garlic: 4 cloves might sound daring, nevertheless it mellows fantastically because it cooks and provides so a lot taste.
- Spinach: Recent spinach wilts shortly and blends proper into the filling.
- Cheeses: Ricotta retains the filling creamy, parmesan provides savoriness, and mozzarella provides you that impossible to resist stretch on high.
- Egg: Helps bind the filling so it units up because the shells bake—nonetheless creamy, however not unfastened or watery.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. When you don’t have Italian seasoning, you should utilize any mixture of Italian herbs that you just like reminiscent of dried basil, oregano, and so forth.
- Cooked Hen: Rotisserie hen works effectively right here, however you’ll be able to actually use any cooked hen, so long as it’s chopped (or shredded) into small items.
- Marinara Sauce: Use a good-quality, flavorful sauce you like. I normally use Rao’s traditional marinara (not working with the model, simply genuinely just like the sauce!).
Overview: Methods to Make Garlic Hen Stuffed Shells
Prepare dinner the jumbo shells till simply al dente, then set them apart.
Sauté the garlic in olive oil, add the spinach, and cook dinner till wilted. Stir this into the ricotta together with the seasonings, egg, parmesan, and a part of the mozzarella. Fold within the chopped hen:
Spoon the filling into every shell, organize them over a layer of marinara sauce, high with the remaining sauce and mozzarella, and bake till bubbly and frivolously golden.
End with recent basil and further parmesan for serving—easy and scrumptious!
Serving & Storing
These stuffed shells pair splendidly with garlic bread or breadsticks and a easy inexperienced salad (I really like this Italian dressing!). Leftovers hold effectively within the fridge and reheat fantastically, making this an incredible choice for meal prep or next-day lunches.
When you’re craving a comfy, comparatively easy dinner that delivers huge taste, this garlic hen stuffed shells recipe deserves a spot in your rotation! All of us actually liked it.
PrintDescription
Crammed with garlicky ricotta, hen, and spinach, then baked in marinara sauce, that is a straightforward crowd-pleaser that works simply as effectively for busy weeknights because it does for informal entertaining.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (191°C). Calmly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or related dimension (about 3-quart) casserole dish. Put aside.
- Deliver a big pot of salted water to a boil and add the jumbo shells. Boil the shells till simply al dente, about 9 minutes. Drain and rinse with chilly water. Lay the shells, open facet up, on a baking sheet.
- Warmth olive oil in a big skillet over medium warmth. Sauté the garlic for 30 seconds, then add the spinach. Prepare dinner, stirring, till the spinach wilts and cooks down, about 3 minutes. Take away from warmth.
- In a big bowl, combine collectively the ricotta cheese, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, egg, parmesan, and 1 cup (113g) of the mozzarella. Fold within the hen and garlic-spinach combination.
- Pour about 2 cups (about 450g) of sauce into the ready baking dish to simply cowl the underside.
- Spoon the filling evenly into the shells and organize within the baking dish.
- Pour the remaining sauce over the stuffed shells. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, for 20–25 minutes. Serve with recent basil and further parmesan, if desired.
Notes
- Make-Forward Directions: Assemble the stuffed shells within the baking dish, cowl tightly, and refrigerate for as much as 24 hours. When able to bake, let the dish sit at room temperature whereas the oven preheats, then bake as directed, including a couple of additional minutes if wanted.
- Freezing Earlier than Baking: Assemble all the things however don’t bake but. Cowl tightly and freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge, then bake as directed. It’s also possible to bake straight from frozen—simply count on so as to add about 20 minutes to the bake time and hold the dish coated for many of it.
- Freezing After Baking: Let the shells cool utterly, then switch to a freezer-safe container or wrap your entire dish tightly with plastic wrap adopted by foil. Freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating, although you’ll be able to reheat straight from frozen if wanted. To reheat within the oven, cowl with foil and bake at 350°F (177°C) till warmed by means of, about 20–25 minutes if thawed or 40–45 minutes if frozen, eradicating the foil throughout the previous few minutes so the cheese turns into bubbly once more. For particular person parts, microwave loosely coated in 1-minute intervals till sizzling, including a spoonful of marinara if the shells appear dry.
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): 9×13-inch Baking Pan (or any related 3-quart baking dish) | Glass Mixing Bowl
- Pasta Shells: You’ll want about 32 jumbo shells, which is round 8 ounces whole. When first testing the recipe, we cooked a full 12-ounce field, however that was too many shells and we had 19 leftover as soon as all the things was crammed. If you wish to keep away from extras, cook dinner nearer to eight ounces, or depend out 32 shells earlier than boiling, and save the remainder of the field for one more time.
- Can I Use Frozen Spinach? Sure. Thaw utterly and squeeze out as a lot moisture as potential earlier than utilizing in step 3.
- Italian Seasoning: When you don’t have Italian seasoning mix, you should utilize any mixture of Italian herbs that you just like, reminiscent of dried basil, oregano, and so forth.
- Hen: Rotisserie hen breast is fast and handy, however any cooked hen works. Simply be sure that it’s chopped or shredded into small items so it mixes evenly into the filling.
- Can I Skip the Hen? Sure, you’ll be able to completely skip the hen. If desired, in step 3, you’ll be able to sauté chopped mushrooms or crimson peppers within the oil for a couple of minutes earlier than including the garlic and spinach.
Diet
- Serving Dimension: 4 shells
- Energy: 315
- Sugar: 2.2 g
- Sodium: 513.8 mg
- Fats: 11.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 26.3 g
- Protein: 25.7 g
- Ldl cholesterol: 77.6 mg
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