Description

Savory jumbo pasta shells filled with seasoned ground beef and a creamy ricotta mixture, all topped with marinara sauce and melted cheese – a perfect comfort food dish.

Ingredients

12 jumbo pasta shells

1 lb ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup ricotta cheese

1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 egg

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

2 cups marinara sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta shells according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside to cool.
While the shells are cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, cooking until softened, about 3 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, basil, and oregano.
In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, and fresh parsley. Stir in the cooked beef mixture and combine until evenly distributed.
Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Stuff each cooked pasta shell with the beef and ricotta mixture and place the stuffed shells in the dish.
Pour the remaining 1 cup of marinara sauce over the top of the shells, then sprinkle with additional mozzarella cheese if desired.
Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

You can make this dish ahead of time and refrigerate it before baking. Just add 5-10 minutes to the bake time if using directly from the refrigerator.
Substitute ground turkey or chicken for the beef if preferred.
Feel free to use store-bought marinara sauce or homemade for extra freshness.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 2 stuffed shells
Calories: 400
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 820mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 23g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 32g
Cholesterol: 95mg