Sausage & Artichoke Stuffed Shells (Dairy-Free)
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These Sausage & Artichoke Stuffed Shells are hearty and delicious! They are packed with ingredients like sausage, artichoke hearts, spinach and a spicy arrabbiata sauce. This pasta dish will become a new family favorite in no time at all. And, bonus, they are dairy-free…but you would never know unless you were told.
My shells recipe does include a creamy “cheese” element, but it is plant based cheese. And because the brand is so well made, you can’t tell that it is not real cheese. That’s why when you go dairy-free you need to invest in using high quality products in your cooking. Believe you me, you will taste the difference!
This recipe is so good and so popular in my household. I’m proud to say that my step-son has declared it his new #1 favorite of all recipes that I have ever made.
Recipe Features:
- Shells that are stuffed full with sausage, spinach and artichoke hearts
- A dairy-free ricotta alternative
- Contains meat, but you can easily omit it for a meatless meal
Ingredient Notes For These Sausage & Artichoke Stuffed Shells:
- Marinara Sauce – The brand listed below is my current favorite. However, just as long as you use the right quantity you should be good to go.
- Spinach – I use a 10 oz bag for this recipe. Also, if I have the time, I like to rip off and discard a lot of the long stems and tear the leaves in half as well. (I have used less and I have used more and 10 oz seems to be the perfect fit). Be sure to squeeze the spinach dry a bit with paper towels before adding it into the filling.
- Ricotta – Kite Hill has a fantastic ricotta cheese alternative. The texture, taste and consistency is spot on. It is kind of expensive, but it is absolutely worth it. (If you don’t want to use a dairy free alternative that is fine – use what works best for you. Note: Just be sure to replace it at a 1:1 ratio).
- Tip: Let it come to room temperature before using. This way, the mixture will be much easier to mix, and it will be easier to fill the shells.
- Cheese – You can top the stuffed shells with fresh Parmigiano Reggiano or mozzarella. I find that some fresh parm doesn’t hurt my stomach like other dairy products can. So, I do like to add a bit on top for fun.
What To Serve With These Stuffed Shells:
- These shells are very hearty, so I recommend serving them with steamed or roasted vegetables, or a side salad. Give this Charred Lemon Broccoli a try.
And, for more pasta recipes, please give these a try:
- Easy Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta
- Creamy Rotini with Corn and Sausage
- Tuna Pasta with Lemon and Capers (One Pot)
- Mediterranean Chicken Pasta Salad
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If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and a star rating below so I know how you liked it. Thanks! Enjoy!
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Sausage & Artichoke Stuffed Shells (Dairy-Free)
- Prep Time: 50 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
These Sausage & Artichoke Stuffed Shells are hearty and delicious! They are packed with ingredients like sausage, artichoke hearts, spinach and a spicy arrabbiata sauce. And, bonus, they are dairy-free…but you would never know unless you were told.
Ingredients
- Jumbo Pasta Shells, 25 count
- 1 24 oz jar Rao’s Spicy Arrabbiata Fra Diavolo Sauce (equivalent to 1.5 lb.)
- 1 lb. Canino’s Spicy Italian Sausage or Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage, cooked and drained
- 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 1 10 oz bag Fresh Spinach, torn or chopped, cooked and squeezed dry with paper towels
- 1 8 oz container Kite Hill Ricotta Alternative, softened
- 1 12 oz jar Quartered Marinated Artichoke Hearts, drained, patted dry and diced
- 1 Egg Yolk
- 3 tbsp Fresh Basil, chopped
- 1 tsp Fresh Thyme, chopped
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste
- Himalayan Pink Salt, to taste
- Red Pepper Flakes, optional
- Optional: Parmigiano Reggiano, freshly grated
Instructions
- Soften the cheese: Preheat the oven to 350° F. To a large bowl, add the ricotta cheese and set aside to soften.
- Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the shells and cook 2 minutes less than the time according to the package directions.
- Cool the pasta: Drain the shells and then arrange them, in a single layer, on a cookie sheet to cool down.
- Sausage: In a large skillet, cook the sausage until it loses its pink, about 7-9 minutes. Remove, with a slotted spoon, to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Set aside.
- Spinach: In the same skillet, add the spinach and garlic, and cook until spinach begins to wilt but is still bright green. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Filling: To the ricotta cheese, add the artichoke hearts, sausage, egg yolk, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes and stir to combine. Fold in the spinach, basil and thyme.
- Assemble: Spread a layer of the marinara sauce onto the bottom of the casserole dish. Scoop about 1 – 1 ½ tablespoons of the ricotta mixture into each cooked shell, and place on top of the sauce.
- Add the sauce: Drizzle with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle the tops evenly with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
- Bake: Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown on top.
- Garnish: Add some additional basil or thyme right before serving.
Notes
- Ricotta: Let it come to room temperature before using. This way, the mixture will be much easier to mix, and it will be easier to fill the shells. (If you don’t want to use a dairy free alternative that is fine – use what works best for you. Note: Just be sure to replace it at a 1:1 ratio).
- Spinach: If I have the time, I like to rip off and discard a lot of the long stems and tear the leaves in half as well. Be sure to squeeze the spinach dry a bit with paper towels before adding it into the filling.
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Artichoke, Dairy-Free, Easy Dinner Recipes, Italian, Main Dish, Pasta Recipes, Sausage Recipes, Spinach, Stuffed Shells
NOTE:
- My White Textured Stoneware, Stemless Wine Glasses are Textured Stoneware Lasagna Pan are all from World Market.
- And both the White Marble Ceramic Coasters, and these White Marble-Style Coasters are from Amazon as well.
