Description
Get ready to fall in love with Cheesy Ground Turkey & Spinach Stuffed Shells—a comfort food classic that’s perfect for an easy dinner or meal prep. These jumbo pasta shells are stuffed with a creamy blend of ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, lean ground turkey, and spinach, then baked in rich marinara sauce until bubbly and golden. This is a go-to for anyone looking for quick dinner ideas, a healthy-ish comfort meal, or even freezer-friendly food ideas. Whether you’re cooking for family, friends, or just yourself, this easy recipe will leave you satisfied without the fuss.
Ingredients
16 jumbo pasta shells
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground turkey
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
4 cups fresh spinach, chopped (or 1 cup frozen, drained well)
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 large egg
2 cups marinara sauce
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or basil (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the jumbo pasta shells until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until softened, about 4 minutes.
4. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
5. Stir in ground turkey, season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Cook until browned and fully cooked.
6. Add spinach and cook for another 2–3 minutes, until wilted. Remove from heat and let it cool.
7. In a large bowl, mix ricotta, half of the mozzarella, half of the Parmesan, and the egg.
8. Add the cooled turkey-spinach mixture to the cheese mixture and stir until combined.
9. Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of a baking dish.
10. Fill each pasta shell with the meat and cheese filling and place in the dish.
11. Spoon remaining marinara over the shells. Top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
12. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
13. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
14. Let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley or basil, if desired.
Notes
You can prep this recipe a day ahead and store it in the fridge until ready to bake.
For freezing, assemble the shells and freeze unbaked—add 10–15 minutes to baking time when cooking from frozen.
Let the meat cool before mixing it with the ricotta to avoid a runny filling.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 3 stuffed shells
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: stuffed shells, ground turkey recipes, easy dinner, freezer meals, spinach pasta, pasta bake