Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 30 mins | Total Time: 40 mins | Servings: 4
I am a busy mom, working full time, and taking care of house chores and the kids. I love to meal prep as it takes a big slice out of my plate. One of my go-to and favourite is this Ricotta Stuffed Shells with Sausage and Spinach. Keep in the fridge or freeze, then pop in the oven when ready to serve.
INGREDIENTS :
- 1 lb. pork sausage (casings removed)
- 20 pasta shells (jumbo)
- 1 14-oz. can diced tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
- 4 oz. ricotta cheese (about ½ c.)
- Parsley optional for decoration
- ⅓ c. Parmesan cheese shredded (more, if desired)
- 2 c. spinach
- Salt and fresh ground black pepper
DIRECTIONS :
Step 1: Following the package direction, cook the pasta shells in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain when done and rinse under cold water. Place on a baking sheet and set the pasta shells aside.
Step 2: To make the filling, heat a wide skillet on medium-high heat. Add and cook the sausage for about 10 minutes until browned. Using a wooden spoon, break the sausage into small pieces as it cooks. Next, stir in the garlic, canned tomatoes, and spinach. Continue to cook for additional 2 minutes or until heated through, and the liquid has reduced by half. Take the pan off the heat when the sauce is done, then stir in the ricotta cheese.
Step 3: Stuff each shell with a heaping tbsp of the filling. Do this either on the baking sheet, then just transfer them back to the pan and reheat. Over the shells, spoon the rest of the sauce and reheat for about 5 minutes. Before serving, lightly sprinkle the stuffed shells with Parmesan cheese and parsley.
Step 4: When reheating the shells, arrange them into a baking dish. Sprinkle the shells with a generous amount of Parmesan cheese. Place in a preheated 375 degrees F oven and bake for about 25 minutes.
Nutrition Facts:
Amount Per Serving: Calories 469, Calories from Fat 324, Fat 36g55%, Saturated Fat 13g81%, Cholesterol 101mg34%, Sodium 1037mg45%, Potassium 608mg17%, Carbohydrates 10g3%, Fiber 1g4%, Sugar 2g2%, Protein 25g50%, Vitamin A 1805IU36%, Vitamin C 15.3mg19%, Calcium 218mg22%, Iron 2.9mg16%
