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Easy & Cheesy Baked Beef and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Close-up of a cheesy, meat-filled stuffed shells pasta, cut open to show the rich filling and melted mozzarella topping.
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Make this easy stuffed shells recipe your new go-to family favorite. Jumbo pasta shells are filled with seasoned ground beef and creamy ricotta cheese, baked in marinara sauce, and topped with melted mozzarella for the ultimate comfort food dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box (12 ounces) jumbo pasta shells
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (15 ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 cups marinara sauce, divided
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the jumbo pasta shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain the shells and rinse with cold water to stop cooking; set aside.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook the beef, breaking it up with a spoon, until it is fully browned. Drain off any excess grease.
  4. In a medium bowl, combine the cooked ground beef, ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, beaten egg, and parsley. Mix well until the creamy stuffed shells filling is evenly combined.
  5. Spread 1 cup of the marinara sauce evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  6. Take each cooked pasta shell and gently open it. Spoon about 1 to 2 tablespoons of the meat and ricotta filling into the cavity of each shell.
  7. Arrange the filled stuffed shells in a single layer in the prepared baking dish over the sauce.
  8. Pour the remaining 1 cup of marinara sauce over the stuffed shells.
  9. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the shells and sauce. Sprinkle with extra Parmesan cheese.
  10. Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the mozzarella cheese is melted and lightly golden brown.
  11. Let the baked stuffed pasta shells rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • For a make ahead stuffed shells option, assemble the entire dish, cover tightly with foil, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Add 10 to 15 minutes to the baking time if baking directly from the refrigerator.
  • If you prefer a vegetarian option, substitute the ground beef with 1 cup of finely chopped sautéed mushrooms and 1 cup of cooked lentils for a hearty, meatless filling.
  • Use a high-quality marinara sauce; the flavor of the sauce greatly impacts this classic stuffed shells recipe.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://delishcraze.com/easy-cheesy-baked-stuffed-shells-recipe/