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Homemade Olive Garden Giant Cheese Stuffed Shells: Easy Restaurant-Quality Pasta at Home photo

Olive Garden Giant Cheese Stuffed Shells: Easy Restaurant-Quality Pasta at Home

Creamy, cheesy stuffed pasta shells baked in marinara for an easy restaurant-style weeknight meal.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 3 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup bread crumbs
  • 2 teaspoons butter melted (for toasting breadcrumbs)
  • 15 jumbo pasta shells
  • 2 cups full-fat ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup Italian blend shredded cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce
  • 4 ounces heavy cream
  • 3 ounces butter for Alfredo-style sauce
  • 3 ounces shredded Parmesan cheese for Alfredo-style sauce
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Baking Sheet
  • Medium Pot
  • small pot
  • Mixing Bowl
  • small dish
  • 3 oven-safe bowls or pie plates

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Melt 2 teaspoons butter and pour it over 1/4 cup breadcrumbs in a bowl; stir until evenly coated.
  3. Spread the buttered breadcrumbs on a baking sheet and toast in the preheated oven 6–8 minutes, or until golden brown; transfer toasted breadcrumbs to a small dish and set aside.
  4. Cook the jumbo pasta shells according to package directions until al dente, drain, and let cool enough to handle.
  5. Meanwhile, heat the marinara sauce in a medium pot over medium-low heat until warm; keep covered and on low heat.
  6. Make the ricotta filling: in a mixing bowl, whisk the egg, then add 2 cups ricotta and 1 cup Italian blend shredded cheese; stir until smooth and combined.
  7. Prepare the Alfredo-style cream: combine 3 ounces butter and 4 ounces heavy cream in a small pot over medium-high heat; when it begins to bubble, stir in 3 ounces shredded Parmesan until melted, then reduce heat to low and simmer briefly to thicken.
  8. Stuff each cooked shell with the ricotta mixture until you have 15 filled shells.
  9. Divide 24 ounces marinara among three oven-safe bowls or pie plates, pouring about 1 cup sauce into each dish.
  10. Place 5 stuffed shells on top of the sauce in each bowl, then pour enough of the Alfredo-style cream over the shells to partially cover them.
  11. Bake the bowls in the oven until heated through, about 20 minutes.
  12. Remove from the oven and garnish with the toasted breadcrumbs and 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

  • You may want to cook extra shells in case some break while stuffing.