Spinach Unstuffed Shells

A simple but filling meatless meal, these Spinach Unstuffed Shells will be a hit with the whole family.

I’m back from Mexico! It was so much fun. I’m working on a recap post but it’s picture and text heavy so it’s taking me awhile. I think it should be up Friday. Get excited. It has pretty pictures.I did a lot of chicken eating while we were there and I’m thinking it’s time to bring it back into regular rotation. For now though, this meal is still vegetarian. It comes together quickly and would be great for a “Meatless Monday” meal.

Spinach Unstuffed Shells

Melissa | Persnickety Plates

A simple but filling meatless meal, these Spinach Unstuffed Shells will be a hit with the whole family.

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Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ½ pound medium shells pasta
• 1 cup marinara sauce I used Trader Joe's Tomato Basil
• 5 oz half a tub Philadelphia Italian Herb cooking creme
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried onion
• 8 oz frozen chopped spinach thawed & squeezed dry
• sprinkle of Italian cheese blend
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• ½ cup or so of mozzarella cheese for topping

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook the pasta.
• Spinach thawing tip - I set my frozen spinach in the fridge overnight so it wasn't fully frozen when I was ready to use it today. From that point, I finished defrosting it in the microwave for about 3 minutes in a microwave safe bowl. Put another bowl, the same size, on top of the spinach bowl and gently squeeze together to drain the excess water. Does that visual work for you? It worked really well and was easier than wringing it out in paper towel.
• Drain the pasta then return it to the pot. Add in the cooking creme, spinach, dried basil, dried onion and sprinkle of Italian cheese blend. Mix until fully combined.
• Cover the bottom of an 8 x 8 baking dish with marinara sauce then top with the spinach pasta mixture. Pour the remaining sauce over the top. Sprinkle with the 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and top with freshly ground black pepper.
• Bake for approximately 20-30 minutes until cheese is browned. Serve hot.
• I served with a spinach salad.

Notes

Adapted fromStephanie Cooks

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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