Italian Sausage & Spinach Stuffed Shells Recipe With Garlic Cream Sauce (7 Ingredients) by Donna John

What is it about stuffed pasta? I love them all, from shells to manicotti to cannelloni. In this easy pasta recipe, few simple ingredients transforms pasta shells into a rich, creamy and memorable meal for family or dinner guests

The garlic cream sauce is a showstopper and smells heavenly wafting from the oven as it bakes. This creamy sausage and spinach stuffed shells recipe is a keeper! You have got to try this easy stuffed shells recipe tonight. Trust me.

To make this Italian dinner you will need to gather the following seven ingredients: jumbo shells, Italian sausage, frozen spinach (check out the health benefits of spinach), mozzarella cheese, heavy cream, fresh garlic and Parmesan cheese. 

Serve this stuffed shells recipe for dinner with a salad and hot, crusty bread. Delicious! 

Cuisine: Italian / American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

Shells

• 10 ounces (1 box) jumbo shells
• 1 - 1 1/2 pounds bulk Italian sausage
• 10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 3 cups grated mozzarella cheese (divided)

Garlic Cream Sauce

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Recipe Notes

• You could use turkey Italian sausage instead of regular Italian sausage.

• Instead of frozen spinach, you could wilt down fresh spinach. Be sure to squeeze it dry, too, before adding it to the filling.

• Be sure to squeeze as much water as possible out of the spinach before mixing it into the filling.

• Store the shells in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave. 

Here's how to make it:

1. Boil the pasta shells according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
   
2. For the garlic cream sauce, add the heavy cream and garlic to a small pot. Simmer, stirring often, until slightly thickened and reduced, about 15 minutes. Add Parmesan cheese and stir until melted. Season with salt, to taste. Remove from heat and set aside.
   
3. While the sauce simmers, brown the sausage in a skillet until cooked through. Add the spinach and 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese. Mix well.
   
4. Stuff the cooked shells with the sausage mixture and place into a baking dish that's been oiled lightly with olive oil or sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
   
5. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
   
6. Pour the garlic cream sauce over the top. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.
   
7. Cover with  aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for about 30 minutes.
   
   

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