Beef and Spinach Stuffed Shells
Published December 11th 2011 Updated January 5th 2024
Beef and Spinach Stuffed Shells are another delicious way to enjoy shells filled with Italian flavors. The vibrant colors and the delectable filling makes them a festive entrée to serve for the holidays but they’re simple enough to enjoy year-round.
Easy Beef and Spinach Stuffed Shells Recipe
These shells are stuffed with beef, spinach and a creamy pesto sauce with plenty of Parmesan cheese for added flavor. They’re stuffed then drizzled with marinara sauce and baked until heated through and the cheese is bubbly and golden. How to make simple Beef and Spinach Stuffed Shells: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)
- Pasta – Cook the shells per the instructions on the box in salted water until al dente, then drain and set aside to cool slightly.
- Cook Onion – Saute the chopped onion over medium high heat in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, until translucent.
- Ground Beef – Add the ground beef to the pan and cook until no pink remains. Season with salt and black pepper. Drain excess fat from the pan.
- Mix-ins – To the pan add the sun dried tomatoes, pesto, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes to the ground beef. Stir until combined.
- Filling – Add the whipped cream cheese, ricotta cheese and spinach. Simmer on low heat for 2 minutes or just until the cream cheese has melted. Taste and adjust salt and black pepper to your taste. Remove from the heat.
- Egg – Next, add the egg, 1 cup shredded Italian cheese and 1/3 cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Stir thoroughly.
- Fill shells – Fill shells using a tablespoon then place side by side, seam side up in the dish. Drizzle the tops with the marinara sauce.
- Bake Bake in a preheated 350°F oven per the recipe until heated through and bubbly.
- Cheese – Sprinkle the reserved shredded cheese on top five minutes before the end of baking.
- Serve immediately garnished with parsley.
How to Make the BEST Beef and Spinach Stuffed Shells
- Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Beef and Spinach Stuffed Shells: One box jumbo shells, ground beef, baby spinach, onion, olive oil, prepared basil pesto, shredded Italian blend of cheese of mozzarella cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, sundried tomatoes, ricotta cheese, whipped cream cheese, fresh garlic, dried Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, large egg, marinara sauce,
- Kitchen tools you’ll need: Skillet, measuring cups and spoons, sharp knife and cutting board, 13 x 9 inch baking dish and large spoon.
- Take time to rinse the sundried tomatoes will remove some of the oil. This will keep it from overpowering the flavor of the filling.
- You can use an Italian blend of cheese from the grocery store or mozzarella cheese for these shells.
- You can use ground turkey, Italian sausage or ground chicken for this recipe.
- Use your favorite brand of marinara sauce for drizzling on top.
- One thing I love about these stuffed shells is that they can be prepared in advance, covered and chilled up to 2 days in advance. Allow them to rest on the counter for 20 minutes prior to baking or increase the baking time to heat thoroughly.
- When doing so, top with the marinara sauce and final sprinkling of cheese just before baking.
- Serve Beef and Spinach Stuffed Shells with a wedge salad, a spinach salad or a fresh Caesar salad along with warm and toasty garlic bread and it’s time to eat.
- Store baked shells chilled in the refrigerator or up to 3 days. Reheat in single servings in the microwave or in a 350°F oven with foil on top just until heated through.
More Italian Inspired Recipes to Make
- Italian Sausage Stuffed Manicotti a classic you can make even better at home.
- Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs.
- Tender Braised Italian Pot Roast.
- Cheesy Italian Meatloaf made in a bundt pan.
- Italian Sausage Stromboli is made family style. Just slice and serve.
- Sheet Pan Italian Sausages with Roasted Vegetables comes together in no time flat.
- See also my Parade article featuring 15 Stuffed Shells Recipes We Can’t Live Without.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Beef and Spinach Stuffed Shells
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 215kcal
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz box jumbo pasta shells
- 1 medium onion diced
- olive oil
- 1/2 tsp each salt and black pepper
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/3 cup sun dried tomatoes rinsed
- 1 Tbsp prepared basil pesto
- 1 1/2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 4 oz light cream cheese (i.e. Neufchatel)
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 1/2 cups packed baby spinach
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend OR mozzarella cheese divided
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 24 oz jar marinara sauce i.e. Bertolli 5 Cheese
- 1 Tbsp chopped parsley for garnishing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 13 x 9 inch glass baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook the shells per the instructions on the box in salted water until al dente, then drain and cool slightly.
- In a stove top pan, saute the chopped onion over medium high heat in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, until translucent. Add the ground beef to the pan and cook until no pink remains. Season with salt and black pepper. Drain excess fat from the pan.
- To the pan add the sun dried tomatoes, pesto, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes to the ground beef. Stir until combined.
- Add the whipped cream cheese, ricotta cheese and spinach. Simmer on low heat for 2 minutes or just until the cream cheese has melted. Taste and adjust salt and black pepper to your taste. Remove from the heat.
- Next, add the egg, 1 cup shredded Italian cheese and 1/3 cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Stir thoroughly.
- Fill shells using a tablespoon then place side by side, seam side up in the dish. Drizzle the tops with the marinara sauce.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until heated through and bubbly. Place the remaining shredded cheese on top five minutes before the end of baking.
- Serve immediately garnished with parsley.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 267mg | Potassium: 277mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 565IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 177mg | Iron: 1mg
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Thud meal was excellent. My boyfriend loved it!!!
Wonderful, thank you!
This recipe is fantastic! It is my son’s favorite dinner. I’m so glad I found this recipe.
As a Mother of 2 sons that makes me very happy! We love it too, thanks.
Hi Pat, the sundried tomatoes typically come in a jar packed in oil. It sounds like that’s what you’ve found. If they are large, give them a quick dice after you rinse them.
I’m going to make this but I’m having a hard time finding the dried tomatoes. The only ones I find are in jars with oil.
I’ve been searching for the perfect Christmas Eve meal. This is it! Of course I’ll need to give out a test run tonight, you know, just to make sure. 😉 Thanks ever so much!
Hi Didi! Kicked up flavors, for sure! xoxo
I’m loving both the sundried tomatoes in this and the pesto Melissa, too die for!!!
Hi Carole, that’s a great idea! Thanks for visiting ~ Melissa
Thanks!! I was wondering what to make for dinner. You solved my problem. Have all ingredients on hand but I am using ground turkey instead of ground beef. Thanks again.
Another thing I do for stuffed shells is an appetizer. Moisten your favorite antipasto recipe with a little Italian Dressing (variety of choice) and fill cooked shells. You may have to secure each shell with a decorative pick. Sprinkle chopped basil over top.