Vegetarian Skillet Stuffed Shells
This one-pan, stovetop-only stuffed shells recipe makes mushroom & spinach stuffed shells an easy weeknight dinner.It is a streamlined, one-pan weeknight meal. It cuts down on prep by stuffing shells with a mushroom and spinach filling, cooking them entirely on the stovetop, and simmering them directly in a skillet with dressed-up jarred sauce.
Servings: 4 (5 stuffed shells each)
Ingredients
Pasta:
- 20 jumbo pasta shells (about 6 oz)
Filling:
- 2 cups whole-milk ricotta
- 1 cup grated Parmesan
- 5 oz baby spinach
Vegetables:
- 8–10 oz crimini mushrooms thinly sliced
- 6-9 large cloves garlic
Sauce:
- 1 jar (24–28 oz) marinara sauce
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
Other:
- ½ cup dry white wine
- olive oil
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Boil the Pasta: Cook the jumbo shells in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions, but stop 2 minutes early so they are al dente and don't tear. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned (about 5 minutes). Pour in the white wine and cook until mostly evaporated, scraping up any browned bits.
- Wilt the Spinach: Add the spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted. Transfer the mushroom-spinach mixture to a plate or cutting board, roughly chop, and let cool slightly.
- Make the Filling: In a medium bowl, mix the ricotta, grated Parmesan, oregano, and the cooled mushroom-spinach mixture. Season well with salt and pepper.
- Simmer the Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add thinly sliced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking until the garlic is lightly browned (about 1 minute). Pour in the jar of marinara sauce and bring to a simmer.
- Assemble & Cook: Stuff each cooked shell with the ricotta-veggie mixture and nestle them into the bubbling marinara sauce. Cover the skillet, reduce the heat to medium-low, and let it all cook for 8-10 minutes, until the shells are heated through and the filling is set.
- Serve: Top with extra grated Parmesan and fresh herbs if desired.
