There’s so many different ways to stuff pasta shells, be it with chicken, sausage, bolognese, or the classic spinach and ricotta. I like to do mine a little different, but I am going to go on record and say these will be the best pasta shells you’ll ever make. There, I said it. It’s all down hill from here 🤣 Just kidding. Follow me…
Four Cheese Stuffed Shells
Oh c’mon, you know we don’t do things by usual quantities on this blog 😂 Truth be told I tested this recipe more times than I care to admit. In the end I settled on 4 cheeses. I truly believe this filling gives you the dreamiest, creamiest result.
What Cheese to stuff shells with?
Ricotta – Ricotta is the classic, but I found too much results in a spongey texture. Some ricotta works great as it holds the fillings shape, but for optimum results you want to mix it with a smoother, creamier cheese. Mascarpone – Adding mascarpone into the filling adds a gorgeous creaminess. It soothes out the filling nicely to the point where it turns buttery & soft, but not so much it spills out in the oven as it bakes. Mozzarella – Mozzarella also has a nice creamy flavour, but also gives you that oozy, cheesy texture as you bite into the pasta shell. Parmesan – This gives you the punch of flavour. I add this to the filling and sprinkle on top before baking.
How to stuff pasta shells?
The easiest and most effective way is to use a piping bag. I have tried just scooping the cheese filling into the shells with a spoon, but it just gets too messy and you can’t stuff as much filling in. If you don’t have a piping bag you can use a zip lock bag and just cut the corner off. Process shots: add cheese, egg and salt & pepper to a mixing bowl (photo 1), stir to combine (photo 2), open piping or zip lock bag (photo 3), add cheese mixture (photo 4), cook pasta shells until al dente (photo 5), pipe filling into shells (photo 6).
Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
This recipe does take a little extra time to prep in comparison to other pasta dishes, so I try to keep the sauce fairly simple. Here’s what you’ll need:
Tomato Passata – This is essentially pureed/sieved tomatoes. It works great because it’s got an ultra smooth texture, which wraps nicely around the shells as they bake. Onion & Garlic – Adds the base flavour for the sauce. Fresh Basil – And lots of it! I normally use 1oz/30g. Must be fresh, don’t sub fry for this recipe. Sugar, Salt & Pepper – All to taste. Chilli Flakes – Optional, but does add a very gentle background heat to the sauce.
Can I make the sauce ahead of time?
Yup! If you want to get ahead of the game just simmer the sauce, allow to completely cool then tightly store in the fridge until needed. Process shots: fry onion in oil (photo 1), add garlic (photo 2), pour in passata and add basil & seasoning (photo 3), simmer until thickened (photo 4).
Baked Pasta Shells
Personal preference here, but I hate it when there’s not enough sauce for stuffed shells. Nothing worse than when the pasta dries up in the oven because there’s no sauce coating it. You want the sauce to come close to the top of the shells before they get in the oven. This way the shells will stay nice and soft as they bake.
Pine Nuts
An absolutely game-changing ingredient to add before baking is lightly crushed pine nuts. These not only add a gorgeous nutty flavour, but the texture works so well with the crispy parmesan and offsets the soft, creamy texture of the shells. To lightly crush the pine nuts I usually use a pestle and mortar, but you can whack them in a zip lock bag with a rolling pin. For allergy reasons you can leave these out, still delicious without!
Can I prep the whole thing ahead of time?
You can, it’s just important to let the sauce completely cool before you add the shells, otherwise they’ll cook and become too soft as they rest. Process shots: pour sauce into baking dish (photo 1), add shells (photo 2), sprinkle with parmesan (photo 3), top with crushed pine nuts (photo 4), bake until golden crispy (photo 5).
Serving Stuffed Pasta Shells
This recipe makes 20 shells, which will feed 4-5 people. They are quite hearty, but you can add a small side salad and/or garlic bread if you fancy! If you’re after another 4 cheese recipe check out my Four Cheese Pasta! For more similar recipes check out these beauties too:
Best Ever Lasagne Baked Spaghetti Casserole Bruschetta Pasta Pasta Pomodoro Veggie Pasta Bake
Alrighty, let’s tuck into the full recipe for these baked shells shall we?!
How to make Stuffed Pasta Shells (Full Recipe & Video)
If you loved this Stuffed Pasta Shells recipe then be sure to Pin it for later! Already made it or got a question? Give me a shout in the comments and pick up your free ecookbook along the way!
