Description
A comforting and classic recipe for Beef-Stuffed Shells with Creamy Ricotta Filling, featuring tender pasta shells filled with a savory beef and ricotta mixture, baked in marinara sauce and topped with melted cheese. Easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box (12 ounces) jumbo pasta shells
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more for pasta water
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 container (15 ounces) whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- 2. Cook jumbo shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cool water. Set aside.
- 3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- 4. Add ground beef. Cook until browned, breaking it up. Drain off excess grease.
- 5. Stir in garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute more. Remove from heat.
- 6. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, and ¼ cup parsley. Stir until combined.
- 7. Add the browned beef mixture to the ricotta mixture. Stir gently until incorporated.
- 8. Spread about 1 cup of marinara sauce evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- 9. Spoon the beef and ricotta filling into each cooked pasta shell.
- 10. Arrange the filled shells in a single layer over the marinara sauce in the baking dish.
- 11. Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the tops of the stuffed shells.
- 12. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce, followed by additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.
- 13. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
- 14. Bake for 20 minutes.
- 15. Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- 16. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
For best results when storing and reheating, allow the dish to cool completely before refrigeration. Reheat in the oven covered with foil at 350°F (175°C) for 20-30 minutes, or in the microwave on medium power for individual servings.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 20g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g