Description
Delicious jumbo pasta shells stuffed with chicken, ricotta, and mozzarella, baked in marinara sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 32 jumbo pasta shells
- to taste salt and pepper
- 2–1/2 cups cooked and chopped crispy chicken
- 1 (15-ounce) container whole-milk ricotta cheese
- 2 cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons fresh basil (divided)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon finely minced garlic (2 cloves)
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce (divided; I recommend Rao’s)
- 1–1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add a generous amount of salt (1 teaspoon for every 4 cups of water), then add in the pasta shells. Cook for 1 minute less than the package directs for al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Place the ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella, egg, Parmesan, 1/4 cup chopped basil, dried oregano, dried thyme, dried parsley, and minced garlic in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Stir until combined.
- Transfer the cheese mixture to a large zipper-top plastic bag and pipe into each of the pasta shells.
- Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce along the bottom of the baking dish. Add the stuffed shells and press in the chopped chicken. Spoon remaining sauce over the shells.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle with remaining mozzarella, and bake uncovered for another 10-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add panko and cook until golden brown. Sprinkle over baked shells along with remaining basil. Enjoy hot!
Notes
- Note 1: Feel free to adjust the amount of chicken based on preference.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed shell
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 100mg