Description
Romantic heart-shaped stuffed shells filled with creamy ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan, then baked in rich marinara sauce a cozy, love-filled dinner perfect for Valentine’s Day or special occasions.
Ingredients
20 jumbo pasta shells
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 cups marinara sauce
Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cook jumbo shells in salted boiling water until just al dente; drain and cool slightly.
3. In a bowl, mix ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until smooth.
4. Spread 1 cup marinara sauce evenly over the bottom of a baking dish.
5. Fill each shell generously with the cheese mixture.
6. Arrange shells in the dish and gently press two shells together to form heart shapes.
7. Spoon remaining marinara sauce over the shells.
8. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
9. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until bubbly and lightly golden.
10. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve warm.
Notes
Use whole-milk ricotta for the creamiest filling.
Add spinach or cooked sausage to the filling for variation.
These can be assembled ahead and refrigerated up to 24 hours before baking.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 shells
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 760mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: heart shaped stuffed shells, valentine pasta, stuffed shells recipe, romantic dinner, baked pasta