Crispy Topped Stuffed Shells Recipes

THE BEST STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• For the marinara sauce: Heat the oil in a medium heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, if using, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic has softened but not browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat, add the basil and dried oregano, partially cover and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened, about 45 minutes.
• Remove the basil sprig. If the sauce is still too chunky, mash the larger chunks of tomato with a potato masher. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool.
• For the shells and filling: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the dried pasta shells cook, stirring occasionally, until softened slightly but not cooked. (The pasta shells should flexible enough to be filled but remain very al dente; they will continue to cook during baking.) Drain, then run under cold water to stop cooking. Drain well again.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Mix together the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, parsley and egg in a large bowl until well combined and uniform. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Transfer the filling to a large disposable pastry bag or large resealable plastic bag (or use a spoon for filling directly from the bowl).
• Spread 2 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Snip off the end of the pastry bag and squeeze the filling into the shells one at a time. Arrange the shells open-side up in a tight single layer in the baking dish as you fill them. Top with the remaining marinara sauce. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake the shells until the sauce is bubbling throughout and the filling is heated through, about 35 minutes.
• Remove the foil from the pan and continue to bake for 10 more minutes to reduce the sauce. Let cool slightly before serving. Top with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

AIR FRYER OVEN TACO SHELLS

Steps:

• Preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place a mini muffin tin pan upside down the air fryer basket. Position tortillas in the indents of the muffin tin. Place the basket on the lowest rack of the air fryer oven.
• Air fry until golden brown and crispy, about 3 minutes. Remove tortillas from mini muffin tin pan and place upside down in the basket. Air fry until bottom side is crispy and golden brown, 1 minute more.

CRISPY STUFFED SHELL BITES

Steps:

• Heat a medium saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the oil, then the turkey sausage, and cook, breaking up the sausage into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until it is beginning to brown and fully cooked, about 5 minutes. Add the shallots and garlic and continue to cook until the sausage has browned and the shallots are soft, about 4 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. In a large bowl, using a rubber spatula, mix together the cheeses, tomatoes, basil, chives, salt and pepper. Fold in the cooled sausage mixture. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions. Strain the pasta well and spread it on paper towels in one layer to dry completely.
• In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat to 350 degrees F. In small batches, fry the dried shells until golden brown and crispy, stirring occasionally so they don't stick to one another. Remove the shells with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Continue with the remaining pasta.
• Fill each shell with about 1 teaspoon of the filling.

CRISPY TOPPED STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Pour half the sauce into 13x9-inch baking dish.
• Mix coating mix, shredded cheese, Parmesan and seasonings until blended.
• Combine ricotta, spinach and 1 cup shredded cheese mixture; spoon into shells. Place over sauce in dish; top with tomatoes and remaining sauce. Cover.
• Bake 10 min. Top with remaining shredded cheese mixture; bake, uncovered, 15 min. or until heated through.

STUFFED SHELLS WITH CRISPY PANCETTA AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• For the shells: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Drain pasta. Toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil and allow to cool before stuffing.
• Warm 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and cook until lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Remove the pancetta from the pan with a slotted spoon and transfer to a large bowl.
• Add the spinach, onion, garlic, parsley, ricotta cheese, asiago cheese, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir to combine.
• Stuff the shells with about 2 tablespoons of the spinach mixture each and place the stuffed shells in a large, buttered baking dish.
• For the sauce: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the cream and bring to a simmer.
• Turn the heat to very low and add the 2 cups asiago cheese, parsley, and pepper. Stir until the cheese is dissolved.
• Pour the sauce over the shells. Top with the remaining 1/4 cup asiago cheese.
• Bake, covered, until golden on top, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

SPICY UNSTUFFED PASTA SHELLS WITH ROASTED GARLIC AND CHèVRE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Fill a large pot with 4 quarts water and add the salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook for 8 minutes; it will be underdone. Reserve ¾ cup of the liquid and drain the pasta.
• Meanwhile, in a large ovenproof skillet, combine the marinara, roasted garlic, 1 ounce of the chèvre, and the red pepper flakes. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the cheese is fully incorporated, about 2 minutes.
• Add the pasta to the skillet along with the reserved cooking liquid. Cook over medium heat, stirring to combine, about 2 minutes. Dollop the remaining 3 ounces chèvre all over.
• Bake for 15 minutes. Turn on the broiler and cook until the cheese is brown and bubbly, about 2 more minutes.
• Top with the parsley and more red pepper flakes. Serve warm.