Description
A comforting and satisfying dish of pasta shells stuffed with a savory beef and creamy ricotta filling, topped with marinara sauce and baked until golden.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package large pasta shells
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) while you prepare the filling, ensuring even cooking.
- Cook the pasta shells according to the package instructions until al dente; they should be able to hold their shape but still easy to stuff.
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, seasoning it lightly with salt and pepper; this should take about 5-7 minutes until it’s nicely browned.
- Combine the beef mixture in a bowl with ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, and Italian seasoning; ensure it’s well mixed for the best texture.
- Stuff each pasta shell generously with the mixture, placing them in a baking dish as you go.
- Pour marinara sauce over the stuffed shells, making sure each one is covered; this keeps them moist during baking.
- Sprinkle any remaining mozzarella over the top and cover with aluminum foil for the first 20 minutes in the oven.
- Remove the foil and continue to bake for another 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Notes
Mix the filling thoroughly to ensure even flavor distribution. Overcooked pasta can break, so aim for al dente. Leftovers can be transformed into a pasta bake or soup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 stuffed shells
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg