Chicken and Spinach Stuffed Shells
Chicken and Spinach Stuffed Shells are a tried and true dinner that I love serving to company. The flavor is incredible with creamy chicken, spinach, and cheese. This makes not one, but two 9×13 casseroles.
CHICKEN AND SPINACH STUFFED SHELLS
(originally posted 2010)
I ran twenty miles yesterday. Twenty. It’s the longest I will run before my marathon in a couple of weeks. It was hard. Really hard. I have no idea how I’m going to do 6.2 more miles for the marathon. 
Here’s the breakdown:
Mile 1-13: Feeling good.
Mile 14-17: Starts raining. Pouring. Great. Awesome.
Mile 16-18: Some 20 year old kid starts following me on a bike..going really slow because I’m…well…going really slow. He kept trying to make conversation as I kept trying to breathe.
“What’s with this rain?”
I gave a slightly annoyed, out of breath, “I don’t know.”
What I wanted to say was are you serious right now? Are you trying to get with this sweaty mess? Do you realize I’m in the middle of mile 17? He continued to follow me for another mile. I wasn’t scared because by this time I was in my development with tons of people walking around me. I was just irritated and baffled.
Finally I said, “Buddy. You GOTTA keep moving.”
Mile 19: I think I’m going to die and I have to use the restroom. Again.
Mile 20: Made it. Collapse in my cool air conditioned living room. Go take a shower. Almost throw up. Then whine to John about how much my body hurts.
So that was my weekend. How was yours?
You’re gonna love these Chicken and Spinach Stuffed Shells. This meal is great when you have to take dinner to someone because it makes two pans and freezes well. I made one for my family and one for a friend who just had a baby. John comes home with food from work sometimes and often brings bland stuffed shells for the kids. When he took a bite of these he said, “Wow. These have a ton of flavor.” Enough said. Sounds like a keeper to me.
CAN THESE BE FROZEN?
Yes. You can freeze this up to two months. Thaw in the fridge and bake as directed.
OTHER CHICKEN DISHES:
- Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
- One-Pan Creamy Chicken and Spinach
- Chicken Salad
- Baked Chicken Chimichangas
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwiches
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Chicken and Spinach Stuffed Shells
These Chicken and Spinach Stuffed Shells are a tried and true favorite that I love serving to company. The flavor is incredible and it makes a ton!
Ingredients
- 1 (12-ounce) box uncooked jumbo pasta shells
- 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
- 2 cups fresh chopped spinach
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15oz) container ricotta cheese
- 2 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 (5oz) package shredded Parmesan cheese (about 1 2/3 cups)
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 Tablespoon dried parsley flakes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 (26oz) jar prepared spaghetti sauce (If you like it saucier use more)
Instructions
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Cook shells according to package directions. Be careful not to overcook them or they will tear easily when trying to fill them. Drain and set shells out individually on a cutting board or baking sheet so that they don’t stick together.
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Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease two 9x13 baking dishes.
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In a large bowl, combine chicken and all the rest of the ingredients except mozzarella and spaghetti sauce. Stir in 1 cup mozzarella. Spoon into shells. *Tip: For easier filling, fill a gallon ziplock baggie with the filling and snip a quarter size hole off the corner of the bag. Then you can just pipe the filling into the shells.
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Spread half of spaghetti sauce into prepared baking dishes. Arrange shells over sauce; top with remaining sauce. Cover tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil. If you are freezing one of the 9x13 prepared pans, freeze it after this step. Include a baggy of the remaining mozzarella for when you cook it.
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Bake, covered, for 40 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella. Bake for 5 to 10 more minutes.
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Makes 8-10 servings.
@Ariana,
Thanks! I had to go through all of my recipes and add instructions and ingredients for an upcoming functionality. I think I was a little tired when I changed them all.
I LOVE your blog, and congrats on running 20 whole miles.. I would have died!
I’m making this recipe today with my mom in preparation for a little baby hopefully coming the end of this month 🙂
I *did* want to mention one teeny thing, though… the “ingredients” section and “instructions” section titles are switched 😉
Since there were just two of us, I followed Allyson’s suggestion and halved everything. They were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Thanks so much for posting this delicious recipe!
For the recipe, I used one chicken breast and pretty much only needed half of everything. If you are cooking for two, half the recipe. You will have plenty to eat + leftovers.
Making this for Mother’s Day tonight! Since we’re all busy on Sunday, I decided to surprise my mom and this turned out to be something she wanted. Hoping I can make it perfectly!
Such a great recipe! I just made it for dinner and my fiance’s reaction was ” Woah! This is the first time you’ve made stuffed shells? They’re amazing!” Thanks for making me look good 🙂
These look great! I loved the running breakdown. I just did my first 20 mile run this week also. Way to go!
totally feel your pain…did 2 20s in the last few weeks and the marathon is in 2 weeks…i keep thinking how will i do more? we can do it though!
great recipe–i need to make this and freeze for our crazy schedules!
Thanks for the great recipe. We just had it last night for dinner. Super good. Thanks
thanks girl! i just won huge points with my home teachers and a couple of neighbors. stuffed shells for dinner and cupcakes topped with “the best frosting i’ve ever tasted!” for dessert…i’m a freaking hero!
I have a few friends that ran their first marathon in the spring and they said the marathon was easier than the 20 mile training run, so you’re good to go. Good for you with the accomplishment! I’m doing a 1/2 tomorrow, can’t imagine doubling that.
your shells looks great – great carb loading for pre-run!
Just throw-up on the kid next time and he will leave you alone, and you will feel better! J/k you will make it all 26.2 just keep running even if you are sick and tired and you find yourself running really slow, it will be over sooner and you will be so happy when its over, probably the happiest that you are done training, then you can just run the distance you like and don’t have to run so far!
Stuff Shells was the first meal I ever made my hubby when we were dating, but I always thought it was kinda bland, now that you have posted this watch out family the stuff shells are back in the weekly rotation..move over boring spaghetti Thanks for posting!
I just made these and I can’t wait to try them, they look delightful!
I am also trying to stock up my meals in the freezer and I am using a ton of space with foil pans, so I am flash freezing them and putting them in a baggie and then I can just prepare however many I want. I hope it works to my benefit, because I ended up with 60 filled shells, so it better work.
One of my friends just told me about your blog so I had to check it out. I’m at the same point in my marathon training too! My marathon is Oct. 9th. Good luck! And I’ll definately have to try that recipe, looks yummy.
20 miles?! You go girl!
It’s 20 miles from my house to my in-laws and that is a LOOONG way, I cannot even fathom running that. Congrats and best of luck!
OOh, and these look yummy!
you are my hero! That is so awesome…I struggle to run a 5k, so high five girlie!
Those look yummy! I am going to make them next week! Congrats on the running! 🙂
You made me laugh with your run break down!! lol The shells look and sound a*ma*zing!!!
way to go!!!! My girlfriend says that mile 17-22 are her hardest then for some reason she gets tons of energy at the end. maybe you’ll be the same!
Congratulations – what an accomplishment!
Your stuffed shells look delicious.
What the heck was with that kid? Geez, I would’ve been super irritated with him.
But on a positive note, those pasta shells look amazing! You weren’t exaggerating when you said they had a ton of flavor – can’t wait to try this!
Holy Cow! 20 miles! You are awesome. My dad likes to run marathons. And my sister runs in a lot of races. She lives in Jacksonville. Aren’t you in Florida? Any where close to Jacksonville? You could be running buddies. Me not so much. Not a big fan of running. But I did like that one of your ads on you blog was for Insanity. That is what I am doing. I am on week 8 and am so ready for it to be over. It really is insane. But I liked that I could look at all your yummy recipes and think about making them and then be reminded about Insanity. Good luck in your marathon. I think I will stick with Insanity and P90X.
way to go on your 20-miler! i wish i could tell you it’s easier during the actual marathon, but it’s not. but don’t forget the overwhelming feeling of accomplishment in finishing, or even just training, for something like that. it’s not for everyone and you’re doing great!
you need to take an ice bath right after those long runs. they are painful to get in but make your legs feel amazing.
and yum about the stuffed shells!
I now know what i’m going to make my roommates for dinner on Sunday! Thank you 🙂
I can’t believe you are a serious runner and make such delicious recipes.
Show-off. Just kidding. I ran a 5K this weekend and was really impressed with myself. 20 miles??! I can’t even imagine! You go girl. and thanks for the recipe!
WOW, that is all I have to say about this dish & your running
wow!! congratulations on your run, thats incredible! i can’t imagine running that far. those stuffed shells do look amazing.. I’m going to have to try them!
The shells look delicious! I wish I had some ready for dinner tonight.
Good Luck on the marathon!!
You poor thing! What a weekend. Way to go for running 20 miles, though–I don’t think I could run over 5! 🙂
These shells looks delicious! Definitely trying these out.