Why are my stuffed shells watery?

You want a ricotta that has nothing more than milk, salt, and either an acid or bacterial starter. Avoid anything with a gum listed—these gums bind water but release it as you heat the ricotta up. Straight out of its container, even good-quality ricotta can be too wet, which will result in a watery filling later .

What goes best with stuffed shells?

I often serve these stuffed shells with my Homemade Caesar Salad, but my Arugula Salad, Beet Salad, or Simple Green Salad would also pair well with this recipe. And when it comes to bread, you really can't go wrong! Stick with a crusty loaf, or make rosemary focaccia, garlic knots, or dinner rolls. Enjoy!

What happens if you put too much water in stuffing?

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture . If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

Why are my stuffed shells hard?

Don't Overcook the Pasta Shells ! Do not, I repeat, DO NOT over cook your pasta shells. In fact, I want you to undercook them! Boil them in a large pot of salt water for exactly 5 minutes, then drain them well and gently pat them dry. The shells will still be relatively hard, but just soft enough for you to stuff them.

What temperature do you bake stuffed shells?

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spoon the cheese mixture into each pasta shell and place open side up, in a single layer, in prepared pan. Pour the rest of sauce over the stuffed shells. Loosely cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes.

How do you keep stuffed shells from sticking?

You should only be cooking the shells to al dente to start! Once your shells have reached this point, drain the hot water from the pot and replace it with cold water . This stops the shells from cooking any further than you want them to and also ensures that they won't stick together upon serving.

How many days are stuffed shells good for?

Like most leftovers, your stuffed shells should last for three to four days in a fridge set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower . If you can't eat the extra stuffed shells so soon, put them in the freezer set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit and they will stay fresh for four months.

How do you thicken watery ricotta?

Place ricotta in cheese cloth, cover with seran wrap, and place in fridge to drain overnight . The next morning your ricotta will have much less liquid, restoring it to the right consistency.

Why is my ricotta cheese watery?

The sign your ricotta is bad If the ricotta has gone yellowish or brown, or if there's a layer of water sitting atop the cheese, that's also an indicator that your ricotta has spoiled (so don't just shrug and mix the water back into the cheese!).

Is ricotta supposed to be watery?

You can cut mold off hard cheeses and still eat the cheese, but once mold appears on ricotta, throw it away. Some molds produce harmful toxins and the mold spores have likely infiltrated the entire container. The cheese may also be watery or have a light brown or yellow appearance, rather than white.

How do you thicken ricotta filling?

The best way to get thick cannoli cream is to drain the ricotta but if your cream is still too thin, you can try a bit of cornstarch to the mixture and mix it well. Add the cornstarch one teaspoon at a time until you get the texture that you are looking for.

Sausage Stuffed Shells Recipe (2024)

Home › Recipe List › Main Dish › Sausage Stuffed Shells Recipe

Posted by Aimee 21 comments
Published: Jun 23, 2021 Last Updated: Oct 23, 2023

Jump to Recipe

Easy, cheesy Sausage Stuffed Pasta Shells are delicious and freezer friendly. Baked in one pan, these stuffed shells are the perfect meal to bring to friends and family. You’ll love the cheesy topping and hearty flavors!

Stuffed Shells are the ultimate crowd pleaser! For a kid friendly favorite, try our Pizza Stuffed Pasta Shells next. Or give these Alfredo stuffed shells for a chicken and broccoli twist!

Why this Recipe Works

I’ve been making these Sausage Stuffed Shells for almost 20 years. I know this because the first time I had them was when my aunt brought me some after my thirdchild was born.

She dropped off a jar of pasta sauce with a bag of these stuffed shells for the freezer. It was so easy to just pop the shells in a pan with sauce and cheese and have a homemade meal!

This recipe makes about 40 shells. Perfect for feeding a crowd or a large family.
You can prep and freeze the stuffed shells in advance. When you’re ready to eat, just add sauce and cheese and bake.
Everyone in the family will go crazy for these saucy, cheesy shells!

Time has passed and the kids have grown–but these stuffed shells taste just as good as they did 20 years ago!

We love keeping a bag of these in the freezer for a quick and easy weeknight dinner!

Ingredient Notes

Italian Sausage. You can use hot, medium or mild sausage depending on your preference. Turkey sausage or chicken sausage can be used instead.
Mozzarella cheese. Feel free to substitute provolone, Feta or another favorite white cheese.
Parmesan cheese. It should be freshly grated (not from a shaker!). Substitute more mozzarella or another preferred white cheese if desired.
Pasta shells. You’ll need the large (or “jumbo”) shells for this recipe.
Prego Chunky Sauce. Or use any chunky marinara style pasta sauce you like! Homemade marinara sauce is also delicious!

Easy Instructions

Cook pasta shells.

After cooking the shells according to package directions, drain and separate them so they don’t stick together.

Make the sausage filling.

While the pasta is cooking, cook the sausage in a large skillet until browned. Drain excess grease. Add spinach, onion and butter to the pan and saute for 2 minutes. Mix in the spices and seasonings.

Fold in the cheeses.

Assemble the shells.

Spoon filling into each pasta shell. From here, you can freeze the shells until you’re ready to bake them.

Baking stuffed shells.

When you’re ready to eat, pour 2 cups of sauce at the bottom of a baking dish. Add the shells and cover with more sauce.

Bake the shells covered for about 45 minutes. Remove the cover, sprinkle cheese on top and bake for another few minutes until the cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly.

Tips and Tricks

You don’t have to bake all the shells at once! I love to double the recipe and keep a bag full of stuffed shells in the freezer. Then, we can just bake as many as we will eat in one meal.
Make sure your baking dish is rimmed and is large enough to fit all the shells you plan to bake.
If you have extra spaghetti sauce leftover, feel free to pour it over the shells before adding the cheese. Yum.

Serving Suggestions

Easy, butteryBeer Breadgoes well with every dinner! Cut it into bite size pieces and use it to soak up extra sauce.

Healthy and light, this freshCucumber Tomato Saladis a delicious side dish with pasta! It’s a great accompaniment to these stuffed shells.

Recipe FAQs

Can you freeze stuffed shells?

Yes! Once you have stuffed the shells, place them an inch apart on a cookie sheet. Freeze for one hour. Remove from freezer and slide shells in a freezer safe ziploc bag.

To cook, remove desired number of shells and place in a baking dish . Cook with sauce and cheese according to the recipe.

Can I use fresh spinach instead of frozen?

Fresh spinach could definitely be used!

How long do I bake the shells if I’m not freezing them first?

If you’re baking the shells right away, they’ll need about 30 minutes covered in the oven. Then, remove and cook until the sauce is nice and bubbly.

How many stuffed shells should I make per person?

My family will eat anywhere from 2 – 3 shells per person in one meal. Small kids will eat 1 or 2, depending on how hungry they are!

How long do stuffed shells keep in the freezer?

Stuffed shells stay good for up to 3 months in the freezer if stored in an airtight container.

More Easy Dinner Recipes

Instant Pot Sausage and Peppers
Ham Casserole
Chicken Tetrazzini: our favorite meal of all time!
One Pot Chili Mac
Turkey Tetrazzini
Spinach Lasagna

Family Dinner Recipes

See all Main Dish recipes

Soups and Stews

Zuppa Toscana Soup Recipe

Spinach and Sausage Quiche

Main Dish

Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin

Soups and Stews

Chicken Pot Pie Soup Recipe

SavePinPrint