Cream Cheese Stuffed Shells

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These Cream Cheese Stuffed Shells have jumbo pasta shells filled with a creamy, cheesy mixture of chives or green onions, topped with spaghetti sauce and gooey cheese, and garnished with fresh parsley or fresh basil.

Why I love this recipe

This easy recipe uses just 6 ingredients and makes a great side dish or meatless main dish for lunch or dinner for two. This comfort food is great served with a side of garlic bread.

Cheese Stuffed Shells without Ricotta and a side of bread sticks. — Cheese Stuffed Shells without Ricotta

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Ingredients

(amounts are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of the post)

large pasta shells

cream cheese

sour cream

spaghetti sauce

dried chives (or 2 chopped green onions)

mozzarella cheese

Optional – Chopped fresh parsley or basil for garnish

Substitutions and additions

You can use homemade spaghetti sauce or homemade marinara sauce instead of grocery store sauce.

Try subbing the cream cheese with cottage cheese or ricotta cheese.

Instead of mozzarella, try cheddar cheese or parmesan cheese.

You can brown some lean ground beef or Italian sausage and add to the red sauce.

Equipment used for this recipe

How to make Stuffed Shells with Cream Cheese

Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2 – Bring a 3-quart saucepan to a boil. Add the shells and a pinch of salt and cook until al dente according to the package directions, about 14 – 15 minutes.

Step 3 – Pour 1/4 cup of the spaghetti sauce into the bottom of a baking dish (18.6 ounce size).

Step 4 – In a medium bowl, stir together the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and chives or green onions. Set aside.

cream cheese mixed with green onions in a bowl.

Step 5 – When the shell pasta is done, drain in a colander and rinse with cold water until cool enough to handle.

Step 6 – Scoop the creamy filling into each cooked shell.

Step 7 – Place the stuffed pasta shells on top of the pasta sauce in the casserole dish.

jumbo stuffed shells and spaghetti sauce in a casserole dish.

Step 8 – Pour the rest of the spaghetti sauce on top of the shells.

shells with cheese and spaghetti sauce in a casserole dish.

Step 9 – Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top of the sauce.

mozzarella cheese sprinkled over the pasta and sauce.

Step 10 – Bake in the oven until the mozzarella cheese is melted, about 25 minutes.

Step 11 – Garnish with parsley or basil if desired. Serve and enjoy!

Cream Cheese Stuffed Shells and a side of bread sticks. — Cream Cheese Stuffed Shells

Pro Tips

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.

Recipe FAQs

What is the best way to reheat stuffed shells?

To reheat these stuffed jumbo shells, place the shells in an oven-safe dish, cover them with aluminum foil, and bake at 350 degrees until the shells’ internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

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Yield: Serves 2

These Cream Cheese Stuffed Shells have jumbo pasta shells stuffed with cream cheese, sour cream, and chives or green onions, topped with spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese, and garnished with fresh parsley.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

8 large pasta shells, uncooked
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup spaghetti sauce
2 Tablespoons dried chives (or 2 chopped green onions)
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Optional - Chopped fresh parsley or basil for garnish

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Bring a 3-quart saucepan to a boil. Add the shells and a pinch of salt to the boiling water and cook until al dente about 14 - 15 minutes.
Pour 1/4 cup of the spaghetti sauce into the bottom of an 18.6-ounce oven-safe baking dish.
To make the cream cheese mixture, in a medium bowl, stir together the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and chives or green onions. Set aside.
When the noodles are done, drain in a colander and rinse with cold water until cool enough to handle.
Scoop the cream cheese sauce into each of the shells.
Place the stuffed pasta shells on top of the pasta sauce in the casserole dish.
Pour the rest of the spaghetti sauce over the shells.
Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese over the entire dish.
Bake in the oven until the mozzarella cheese is melted, about 25 minutes.
Garnish with parsley or basil if desired. Serve and enjoy!