🍅 Plant-Based Baked Italian Stuffed Shells

 

 Plant-Based Baked Italian Stuffed Shells

Total Time: 1 hr 10 min | Prep: 25 min | Cook: 45 min | Serves: 5–6

Intro

Let’s be real — stuffed shells are like lasagna’s cute little cousin. Tender pasta shells filled with creamy vegan ricotta, nestled in rich marinara, baked ‘til bubbly perfection. It’s hearty, comforting, and just the right level of fancy for a weeknight dinner or Sunday dinner with the fam.

🛒 Ingredients

For the Shells & Sauce:

For the Vegan Ricotta Filling:

For Baking:

👩‍🍳 Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta:
    Boil the shells in salted water until just al dente. Drain, rinse gently under cool water, and set aside so they don’t stick.

  2. Make the filling:
    Blend tofu, soaked cashews, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, garlic, onion powder, olive oil, salt, and pepper until creamy. Fold in chopped spinach and herbs.

  3. Prepare the dish:
    Lightly oil a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread 1 cup of marinara on the bottom.

  4. Stuff those shells:
    Spoon the ricotta filling into each shell (about 1–2 tbsp each) and arrange them in the dish, open side up.

  5. Sauce it up:
    Pour remaining marinara over the top. Sprinkle with vegan mozzarella and parmesan if using.

  6. Bake:
    Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake another 10–15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.

  7. Cool & serve:
    Let it rest 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with more fresh herbs and a pinch of red pepper flakes for that Italian mama flair.

🧠 Mom Tips

🧀 Ricotta remix: Add a handful of sautéed mushrooms or chopped artichokes to the filling for extra flavor.
🍅 Freezer-friendly fave: Make a double batch and freeze one before baking — future you will thank you.
🍝 For the kids: Keep the seasoning mild and serve with garlic bread “sticks” (a.k.a. toasted vegan sandwich bread brushed with olive oil + garlic).

🥣 Why I Love It

Because it’s cozy, satisfying, and feels like a warm hug in pasta form. Perfect for when you want comfort food that still feels light, fresh, and 100% plant-based.

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