Description
Cheesy Beef Stuffed Shells are a savory and satisfying dish featuring jumbo pasta shells filled with a flavorful mixture of ground beef, ricotta, and mozzarella cheese, all topped with marinara sauce and baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 jumbo pasta shells
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook the jumbo pasta shells according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool slightly.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the beef. Sauté until the onion is translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and the egg. Mix until well combined.
- Stir the beef mixture into the cheese mixture until evenly combined.
- Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Stuff each cooked pasta shell with the beef and cheese mixture and place them in the baking dish.
- Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the stuffed shells and sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Let the dish cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.
Notes
- For a healthier version, substitute ground turkey or chicken for the beef.
- Add chopped spinach or mushrooms to the beef mixture for extra vegetables and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg