Beef-Stuffed Shells with Creamy Ricotta Filling
A comforting dish of jumbo pasta shells filled with a savory beef and creamy ricotta mixture, topped with rich marinara and melted cheese, perfect for family gatherings.
Ingredients
Pasta and Filling
- 12 pieces jumbo pasta shells
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 piece egg
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste Salt and pepper
Sauce and Toppings
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and generously grease a baking dish.
- Cook the pasta shells until they reach al dente and then drain and set aside.
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef. Drain excess fat, then stir in the marinara sauce.
- In a mixing bowl, blend together the ricotta cheese, egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until smooth.
Assembly and Baking
- Fill each pasta shell with the ricotta mixture and place them in the prepared baking dish.
- Pour the beef and marinara mixture evenly over the stuffed shells.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese on top.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Let the stuffed shells cool slightly before serving.
Notes
This dish can be made ahead of time and frozen before baking. For a lighter version, consider using lean ground turkey, low-fat ricotta, or whole-grain pasta shells.