One Pot Spinach Broccoli Ricotta Stuffed Shells.

Easy One Pot Spinach Broccoli Ricotta Stuffed Shells: Jumbo pasta shells and broccoli are boiled together until perfectly al dente. Then, with milk and a handful of melty cheeses and creamy ricotta, everything comes together into a rich, cheesy filling—no extra steps needed. Fresh basil and a touch of lemon zest add brightness and flavor. It’s simple, satisfying, and sure to become a regular in your weeknight dinner rotation. Totally delicious!

When I was in New York, I enjoyed one of the yummiest baked pastas. It was a lucious individual serving of baked stuffed shells in the cheesiest mascarpone truffle sauce. If you’re in New York, try the baked shells from Crane Club for sure.

While I was inspired by that wonderful meal, I wanted to create my own variation with lighter, springtime flavors. And as much as I love a hint of truffle, it can be a bit pricey—so I swapped it out for bright lemon zest and fresh broccoli instead! It’s such a delicious combo, and honestly, one you can enjoy any time of year.

What I really loved were the jumbo stuffed shells—and just how much cheesy sauce they were baked in. If there was ever a time to use the word divine, it’s to describe that dish. Delish!

I did my best to recreate it as an easy, one-pot pasta with lots of cheesy sauce and an “unstuffed,” but honestly still stuffed, shell situation. With three cheeses and a few generous handfuls of chopped broccoli, the shells practically stuff themselves. I added a little kick with some chipotle, but cayenne or chili flakes work just as well if that’s more your thing!

We loved this easy, peasy, one pot pasta! It will not let you down!

Let’s get into the details

Here are the ingredients:

• Jumbo pasta shells
• Broccoli
• Whole milk or heavy cream
• Spicy cheddar or white cheddar cheese
• Provolone cheese
• Whole milk ricotta cheese
• Baby spinach
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Paprika
• Chipotle chili powder – or use chili flakes for some added spice
• Fresh basil
• Lemon zest
• Black pepper

Here are the steps

Step 1: boil the jumbo shells and broccoli

Use a pot large enough to hold both the jumbo shells and the broccoli. Fill it with about 4 cups of water.

Once the water has come to a boil, add the shells and the broccoli. Boil together until al dente, do not drain the pasta.

The water in the pot will help create the cheese sauce, along with the cheeses and ricotta cheese.

Step 2: stir in all the remaining ingredients

Now add the cream or milk. This will create the cream sauce. Then for the cheeses, I love using a mix. My favorite blend for this pasta is a spicy rattlesnake cheddar cheese, or you can use a sharp white cheddar if you prefer. Then something super melty like provolone, or another option could be Havarti. Just some kind of mix with rich flavors.

The ricotta is the key here. The pasta I enjoyed used mascarpone, which would be a wonderful substitute. You could even use cream cheese! But I always have ricotta in the fridge, so that’s what I used to make this dish. Add the spinach now too.

Step 3: seasonings

To season, I like to use garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and chipotle chili powder. As I mentioned above, you can also use chili flakes or cayenne for some extra heat. The spices give the pasta a nice balance of flavor.

And then lots of fresh basil and lemon zest. The lemon is so yummy with the ricotta cheese.

And once you add the basil and lemon zest – ah, the pasta will immediately smell so good!

Step 4: serve

Serve the unstuffed but stuffed jumbo shells directly out of the pot, then top with fresh basil and lemon,

I added simple roasted chicken to balance the dish. Of course, a big salad is a wonderful option, too! Enjoy!

Looking for other one-pot recipes? Here are my favorites: 

French Onion Pasta with Crispy Prosciutto

One Skillet White Chicken Chili Bake

Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta

Lastly, if you make this one pot Spinach Broccoli Ricotta Stuffed Shells, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!