Description
A delicious recipe for cheesy stuffed pasta shells filled with ground beef and ricotta cheese, topped with mozzarella and cheddar.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package jumbo pasta shells
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes or marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add the jumbo pasta shells and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
- Drain and set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare Filling:
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add chopped onion and minced garlic, sauté until softened.
- Add ground beef or Italian sausage, cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Mix cooked meat with ricotta cheese in a bowl.
- Fill Shells:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Spread a layer of crushed tomatoes or marinara sauce in the bottom of a baking dish.
- Stuff each cooked pasta shell with the meat and ricotta mixture.
- Place stuffed shells in the prepared baking dish.
- Assemble and Bake:
- Pour additional crushed tomatoes or marinara sauce over the stuffed shells.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese on top.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve:
- Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley, if desired.
Notes
- For added flavor, use a mix of Italian cheeses in the filling.
- Substitute half of the ricotta with cottage cheese for a lighter dish.
- Add chopped spinach or mushrooms to the filling for extra nutrition.
- Make sure not to overcook the pasta shells to prevent them from tearing during stuffing.
- Can be prepared in advance and frozen; bake directly from the freezer, adding extra cooking time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed shell
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg