Description
A delicious dinner recipe featuring jumbo pasta shells stuffed with ground turkey, spinach, and a blend of cheeses, topped with marinara sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
- ½ onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 12 oz jumbo pasta shells
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the jumbo pasta shells until they are al dente (about 10 minutes). Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the Filling: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and garlic, and sauté until fragrant (about 2 minutes). Add ground turkey, breaking it apart as it cooks. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook until browned and no longer pink (about 5-7 minutes). Stir in chopped spinach and cook for another 2 minutes until wilted. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Stir in ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and egg until well combined.
- Stuff the Shells: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce over the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Fill each shell with about 2 tablespoons of the turkey and ricotta mixture and place them in the baking dish, open side up.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the stuffed shells, ensuring they are evenly coated. Sprinkle with additional mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until bubbly and golden brown. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Feel free to use homemade marinara sauce for a fresher taste.
- For a spicier version, add red pepper flakes to the filling.
- Can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge before baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 110mg