Description
Hearty Italian-style Stuffed Shells elevate comfort dining with rich ground beef and melted cheese nestled in tender pasta pockets. Sumptuous layers of flavor promise a satisfying meal that brings Mediterranean warmth right to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage
Dairy and Cheese:
- 15 ounces (425 grams) ricotta cheese
- 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
Sauce and Pasta:
- 1 box (12 ounces / 340 grams) jumbo pasta shells
- 2 cups marinara sauce
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or basil, chopped
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and prepare jumbo pasta shells by cooking them until tender, then drain and let cool on a flat surface.
- Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, eliminating excess fat. Season with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, then allow to cool completely.
- Create a rich filling by blending ricotta cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, and cooled seasoned beef in a mixing bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Create a sauce base by spreading marinara across the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and add flavor.
- Carefully fill each pasta shell with the meat and cheese mixture, placing them snugly in the prepared baking dish.
- Generously coat the stuffed shells with remaining marinara sauce, ensuring complete coverage, then sprinkle additional mozzarella cheese on top.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until cheese melts and develops a golden, bubbly texture.
- Finish the dish by garnishing with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately while hot for optimal flavor and texture.
Notes
- Perfectly cook pasta shells just until al dente to prevent them from becoming mushy during baking.
- Let ground beef cool completely before mixing with cheese to maintain mixture’s consistency and prevent cheese from melting prematurely.
- For a lighter version, substitute ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based protein crumbles to reduce fat content.
- Enhance flavor by adding fresh herbs like basil or oregano to the cheese mixture for an extra aromatic twist.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 445 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg