Description
Delicious Beef Stuffed Shells filled with a creamy ricotta and mozzarella cheese mixture combined with seasoned ground beef, baked in a rich marinara sauce. This comforting Italian-American casserole makes a perfect family dinner that’s easy to prepare and packed with flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Shells
- 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
Assembly
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- Additional shredded mozzarella cheese (optional, for topping)
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 the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool so you can handle them easily when stuffing.
- Cook Beef Mixture: 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 and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes. Season the mixture with salt, pepper, dried basil, and dried oregano, cooking for another minute to meld the flavors. Remove from heat.
- Mix Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, egg, and fresh chopped parsley. Stir in the cooked ground beef mixture until everything is evenly distributed to create a rich, creamy filling.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce evenly over the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent the shells from sticking and to add flavor.
- Stuff Pasta Shells: Carefully spoon the beef and cheese filling into each cooked jumbo pasta shell, then arrange the stuffed shells in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Add Sauce and Cheese: Pour the remaining 1 cup of marinara sauce over the arranged shells. If desired, sprinkle additional shredded mozzarella cheese over the top for a cheesier crust.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the filling to heat through.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10 minutes until the top is bubbly and the cheese has melted beautifully with a slight golden hue.
- Cool and Serve: Take the dish out of the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra fresh parsley if you like, and enjoy your hearty, cheesy beef stuffed shells.
Notes
- Use jumbo shells to allow enough space for the filling.
- If you prefer a vegetarian option, substitute the ground beef with cooked spinach or mushrooms.
- Make sure not to overcook the pasta shells so they hold their shape during stuffing and baking.
- You can prepare this dish a day ahead and refrigerate before baking; increase baking time slightly if baking straight from the fridge.
- Adding the egg to the cheese mixture helps bind the filling for easier stuffing and serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
