Description
Delicious Beef Stuffed Shells filled with a creamy ricotta and mozzarella cheese mixture blended with seasoned ground beef and baked in marinara sauce, perfect for a comforting family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 jumbo pasta shells
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Cheese Filling
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Other
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- Additional mozzarella cheese for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Cook Pasta: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the jumbo pasta shells according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare Beef Mixture: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking apart with a spoon. Add chopped onion and minced garlic; cook for about 3 minutes until softened. Season with salt, pepper, dried basil, and dried oregano. Remove from heat.
- Mix Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, egg, and fresh parsley. Stir in the cooked beef mixture until evenly combined to create the filling.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce evenly on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and add flavor.
- Stuff Shells: Carefully stuff each cooked pasta shell with the beef and cheese filling and arrange them in the prepared baking dish.
- Add Sauce and Cheese: Pour the remaining 1 cup of marinara sauce over the stuffed shells. If desired, sprinkle extra shredded mozzarella cheese on top for added cheesiness.
- Bake Covered: Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes to heat through and stew the flavors.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes to melt and bubble the cheese topping to perfection.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the dish from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra fresh parsley if desired for a pop of color and freshness.
Notes
- Ensure pasta shells are cooked al dente so they hold their shape when stuffed.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or Italian sausage as a variation.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, add red pepper flakes to the beef mixture while cooking.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Adding extra mozzarella on top before baking adds a nice golden crust.
