Make pasta shells stuffed with spinach artichoke dip for a different take on the classic stuffed shells meal. They are cheesy, warm, and delicious!
Jump to RecipeOne day, I saw a recipe online for Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Shells and decided we could make that ourselves. I’ve only ever made stuffed shells one way, with marinara, spinach, and cheese. I never even thought about there being multiple ways to stuff pasta shells. And it came out really good!
I based the filling off of my regular spinach and artichoke dip recipe, then combined that with the way I made my regular stuffed shells. These are so easy to make and go a long way. We usually have leftovers for lunch the next day.
I have learned the hard way that the store-brand shells tend to break a lot easier than the name brand. I only buy Barilla brand when I know I am using them for stuffed shells.
My favorite part of this meal is how cheesy the whole thing is. The filling is full of three different kinds of cheese and topped with more cheese before it’s cooked. And the spinach makes it healthy then, right?

Step by Step
Start by boiling the shells as directed. You want to boil the shells so that they are soft, but not overcooked. Since they are still going to bake, it’s ok to be slightly undercooked. If they are too soft, they’ll break as you try to stuff them.

Meanwhile, in a large stockpot, heat some oil over medium heat. Then add the chopped artichoke to the pan, cooking for just a few minutes.

Add the spinach. Cook, stirring constantly, until the spinach wilts.

Add in the cream cheese, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses. Stir it continuously to melt the cheese, making sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom and burn.

Move the artichoke mixture into a bowl and let it cool for just a few minutes so it isn’t too hot to work with. Grab a shell, and put a scoop of filling inside it, then lay it in a casserole dish. Continue the same with all the shells.

Top the shells with more mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Bake at 350F for about 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is all melted.


Recipe
Originally Published On: January 23, 2019
Last Updated On: March 16, 2020

Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Shells
Ingredients
- 6 oz pasta shells
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 8 oz artichoke hearts (drained and chopped)
- 5 oz baby spinach leaves
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F
- Cook the shells as directed
- Meanwhile, in a large stockpot, heat oil over medium heat
- Add the artichokes and cook for a few minutes
- Add the spinach leaves, stirring constantly until wilted
- Mix in the cream cheese, 1 cup mozzarella, and 1/2 cup parmesan, stirring constantly until they are melted
- Stuff the cooked shells with the artichoke mixture and layer in a baking dish
- Sprinkle with the rest of the cheese
- Bake for about 15-20 minutes, until the cheese has melted
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
This is comfort food to the max. I love the large shells and that stuffing is perfect. Light and fresh.
The large shells are so perfect for stuffing!
They look delicious 😋
Thanks! It’s a great meal.
I haven’t had stuffed shells in ages! I finally found a gluten free brand of shells so I need to give this a try!
Oh that’s awesome! I’ll have to tell my family members with celiac’s so they can enjoy them again, too!
Yay for stuffed shells! I’ve never tried making my own, but you make it seem doable!
Stuffed shells are so yummy, and so filling! It’s not as hard as it looks. Just make sure you get a good brand of pasta so they don’t fall apart when stuffing.
I like this recipe because I never thought to stuff shells with anything other then the traditional flavors. I do like spinach and could make up half with artichokes. I haven’t made sruffed shells in a long time.
I hadn’t for a long time either. I saw a photo on Pinterest and it made me realize they could be stuffed with so many other flavors!
This looks awesome. I love spinach artichoke anything really, so this is a winner! I’ll have to give it a try!!
I do, too! When I was younger I didn’t think I would since I didn’t like spinach much, but it’s such a delicious combination!
This sounds absolutely delicious! I need to make this with my little boy because spinach is his absolutely fave thing to eat!!
These would be a great dinner for him, then! They are so filling, too.
This looks so yummy! I love it with those cheese on. I wanna try it soon.
Cheese is great on anything!
Oh wow, this looks delicious! I don’t know why I’ve never thought of this before! Great recipe.
I felt the same way when I first made this, too!
It’s funny, it was National Artichoke Day this last week and I was looking for a great recipe. I wish I had seen this before. This looks delicious and creamy. I’ll have to try it out.
Oh man, missed opportunity! Maybe next time for National Artichoke Day!
Cheese, cheese and more cheese. That’s really the best way to make any meal amazing. I wish I wasn’t lactose intolerant. I’m so sad watching other people eat these badass meals.
I have always loved cheese. I said if I ever had to cut dairy that’s what I would miss the most. I do have a friend who is allergic to milk, so we’ve had to compromise on meals when she is over and have made it work pretty well.
I have never cooked pasta shells, believe it or not. what a fun way to make a different kind of midweek pasta! Yum!
I’ve used them in a few different recipes and they are fun for something different for sure!
Anything spinach and artichoke I love! This sounds so good. I bet I could make it!
Me too, spinach and artichoke is the best! You could definitely make this, it’s a pretty easy recipe.
Cheesy meals are the best meals there is. Love your plating! This sounds so good.
Yes, give me all the cheese! I have been working a lot on my presentation recently and just went to goodwill and found a bunch of new props to use in upcoming recipes!
I love spinach and artichoke dip so I bet that these are AMAZING! Definitely going to be giving these a try.
Spinach and artichoke is definitely one of my favorite dips, too! I hope you like these if you get a chance to try it.
This looks amazing! Thank you for sharing the recipe. I’m always on the look out to try something new. 🙂
You’re welcome, it’s delicious so hopefully you get a chance to try it out!
I shouldn’t have read this when I was hungry! I love stuffed shells and this recipe looks amazing.
I always make myself hungry again as I’m typing these up!
Once again, I’m drooling. This looks delicious. Adding this to my recipes I have to try list.
I hope you get a chance to try it out, the meal is delicious!
Yummmmm…thinkingbabout making this this weekend! Thanks for the recipe!
I hope you get a chance to make the recipe and enjoy it!
These sound lovely! I love the simple step by step photos too.
Thanks! I like being able to see what I’m doing every step to make sure things look right so figured it could help others, too.
Wow! It looks so yummy and tasty too! It makes me feel so hungry! I love this recipe
Spinach artichoke is so good, and having them in shells makes it so easy to eat!
Those look amazing. I would definitely eat waaaay too many, lol.
I have to hold myself back sometimes! They are actually much more filling than you would think.
Now here’s a dish I can get behind on a cold winter day. It looks divine and I bet it tastes just as good. Artichokes and spinach.Yummy.
It’s so perfect for cooler days. Spinach and artichoke is such a good combination!
This sounds great! I normally make mine with spinach, ricotta and chicken (or turkey) and serve them with tomato sauce 😉
I make a similar version as well just without any meat in them.
Yummmmm these look and sound delicious! I’m always looking for new comfort food recipes. I’ll definitely be trying this out!
These are seriously great comfort food. You’ll have to let me know what you think once you try them!
Spinach and artichoke are two flavors I love as a dip. Never thought to create a pasta dish. Great recipe idea for the week.
It’s so delicious together, and works really well to fill the pasta shells!
This looks delicious! Just the kind of variety we need in our weekly meal plan. I wonder if we can add shredded chicken of some sort?
Oh, I haven’t tried it but I bet shredded chicken would be great in these!
I want a bite so badly. I’m saving this recipe and will make it this week. Hopefully my picky daughter will like it.
They are so yummy! I hope you and your daughter get to enjoy the delicious meal.
Ooo this looks yummy. A fab family feast for sure. Love Spinach and artichoke for sure xx
Spinach and artichoke is such a wonderful combination! I love it, too!
OMG these look soooo incredible! I totally want to make these. The next time we emerge to go to the grocery store (3-4 weeks from now? – we’re pretty much on lockdown/treating ourselves as such here), will have to pick up the ingredients we don’t have!
Hah, same here! We are making a lot of pantry meals and scrounging up something for dinner. I hate preparing lunches for the boys (they get school lunch usually) so that’s been hardest on me for food since they are home for at least a few more weeks.
This looks really yummy. I have tried to make this as I love stuffed shells!
Spinach artichoke is so great in stuffed shells! I hope you get a chance to try it soon!
This sounds so so good right now. We bought a ton of spinach artichoke dip from trader joes! Now I want to stuff shells with it!
Oh, that will make them even easier! Just get some pasta shells and fill them up!!