Copycat Olive Garden Stuffed Shells

These copycat Olive Garden stuffed shells are just as good or better than the original. They're full of everything we love about Olive Garden giant stuffed shells, and they're easier to make than you think!

I almost always order the stuffed shells when we go to Olive Garden. I've tried their other dishes, and they're good. But nothing is as good as those shells! That's why I decided to make my very own to have whenever I want.

Copycat Olive Garden Giant Stuffed Shells

This was inspired by my other Olive Garden copycat recipe on this site. It worked so well, I knew I had to try making the shells. It pairs well with this amazing air fryer garlic bread recipe.

Ingredients

The ingredients for this recipe are so incredibly simple. You'll find them all easily at your local grocery store.

• Jumbo shells
• Ricotta cheese
• Shredded mozzarella chees - divided
• Grated parmesan cheese - divided
• Garlic powder - divided
• Spaghetti sauce
• Butter - divided
• Italian bread crumbs
• Heavy whipping cream

See the recipe card at the end of the post for quantities.

Instructions

This recipe is so rich and delicious, but it's not nearly as involved as it appears. The steps are very simple.

Step 1: Prep

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray an 8x8 baking dish with nonstick spray. Add 1 cup of spaghetti sauce to the bottom of the dish and set it aside.

Step 2: Cook the Noodles

Prepare the shells according to the package directions. Set them aside to cool.

Step 3: Combine Cheeses

Combine the ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses in a large bowl along with garlic powder and garlic salt.

Step 4: Stuff and Bake the Shells

Stuff the cooled shells with the cheese mixture and place them in the baking dish. Then, cover the dish with foil and bake for 32 minutes.

Step 5: Make the Alfredo Sauce

Melt butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Then, slowly add heavy whipping cream while stirring continuously. Add garlic powder and garlic salt and stir again. Finally, add mozzarella cheese and grated parmesan cheese and stir until smooth. Then, remove the sauce from the heat.

Step 6: Layer the Final Ingredients

When the shells are finished, drizzle the alfredo sauce over them followed by the remaining spaghetti sauce. Combine the bread crumbs with melted butter and sprinkle them on top of the sauce-covered shells.

Step 7: Broil

Broil uncovered for 2 to 3 minutes or until the top is browned to your liking.

Hint: Drizzle the sauces rather than trying to spread them. This prevents you from ending up with a messy top.

Substitutions

Don't have the correct ingredients on hand or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this copycat Olive Garden giant stuffed shells recipe.

• Your Favorite Spaghetti Sauce - Use your favorite brand of sauce for this recipe.
• Make Your Own Italian Bread Crumbs - If you don't have Italian bread crumbs, just add Italian seasoning to plain bread crumbs.
• Half and Half - While it won't be as rich, you can use half and half in place of cream for this recipe if you don't have any on hand.

Variations

Want to personalize this copycat Olive Garden stuffed shells recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.

• Spicy - Add red pepper flakes to the sauce for a slight kick of heat.
• Homemade Sauce - If you're feeling industrious, try making your own spaghetti sauce.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this fried spaghetti.

Storage

You can store these in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for 3 to 5 days.

What To Serve With Stuffed Shells

The question always remains when trying to build a mouth watering meal like this and that would be "what do I serve with it?" Ken and I put our heads together and compiled this most amazing list for you to elevate your stuffed shells to next level goodness. Check it out and let us know which is your favorite!

Tips

I have a few tips here that will help you make the best possible version of this recipe. They're all simple, but they can make a big difference.

• Only cook your pasta to al dente. Any softer, and it will fall apart while cooking.
• Be sure you put enough sauce in the bottom of the dish so the shells don't stick.
• When adding the alfredo sauce and final layer of spaghetti sauce, drizzle them rather than trying to spread them to avoid a big mess.
• Be gentle when filling the shells so you don't break them.

More Pasta Recipes

Do you like (feature of the recipe such as apples? Here some recipes you may also like to try

• Meat Lovers Pizza Pasta Casserole
• Cheesy Spaghetti Pie
• Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta

FAQ

Do you have questions about these copycat Olive Garden stuffed shells? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about copycat Olive Garden giant stuffed shells.

Copycat Olive Garden Stuffed Shells

Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.