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Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Shells with Spinach

Close-up of baked Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Shells with Spinach, topped with melted cheese and parsley.
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A recipe for jumbo pasta shells filled with a creamy mixture of cooked chicken, spinach, and three cheeses, baked in marinara sauce until bubbly and golden.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box (12 oz) jumbo pasta shells
  • 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
  • 1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the jumbo pasta shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain the shells and rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, squeezed dry spinach, ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, the beaten egg, garlic powder, and black pepper. Mix until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
  4. Spread about 1 cup of the marinara sauce evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  5. Carefully stuff each cooked pasta shell with the chicken and cheese filling. Arrange the filled shells in a single layer in the baking dish over the sauce.
  6. Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the stuffed shells.
  7. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese over the top. Drizzle with olive oil.
  8. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
  9. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
  10. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Squeeze as much liquid as possible from the thawed spinach to prevent a watery filling.
  • You can use rotisserie chicken for quick preparation.
  • If you prefer a smoother sauce, blend half of your marinara sauce before spreading it on the bottom of the dish.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonswirl.com/cheesy-chicken-stuffed-shells-with-spinach/