Stuffed Pasta Shells
Stuffed Pasta Shells are large, jumbo pasta shells typically filled with a creamy ricotta cheese mixture, often combined with spinach, herbs, and sometimes ground meat, then baked in a rich tomato or marinara sauce. This classic Italian-American comfort food is known for its hearty, satisfying nature and is a popular choice for family dinners and gatherings.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is a balanced source of macronutrients, offering substantial protein from the cheese and meat (if used), carbohydrates from the pasta, and fat from the cheese and sauce. A typical serving provides a good amount of calcium, iron, and lycopene from the tomato sauce, with a calorie range generally between 400-600 kcal.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 480 kcal |
| Protein | 24 g |
| Carbs | 42 g |
| Fat | 22 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 780 mg |
| Calcium | 320 mg |
| Iron | 3.5 mg |
| Potassium | 450 mg |
| Vitamin A | 250 IU |
| Vitamin C | 8 mg |
| Lycopene | 4500 µg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.2 µg |
| Phosphorus | 280 mg |
Per 3-4 large stuffed shells (approx. 240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, stuffed shells represent the Italian-American tradition of transforming simple ingredients into a festive, shareable meal. Nutritionally, the combination of tomato sauce (rich in lycopene) and dairy (rich in calcium) creates a dish where nutrients complement each other for better absorption.
