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Beef Stuffed Shells baking dish with melted mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce close up

Beef Stuffed Shells

This Beef Stuffed Shells recipe features jumbo pasta shells filled with a savory mixture of ground beef and ricotta cheese, baked in marinara sauce and topped with melted mozzarella.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 550
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces jumbo pasta shells
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce divided
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Equipment

  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • large skillet
  • large pot

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Cook jumbo pasta shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat until the beef is browned. Drain off any excess grease.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the cooked beef mixture, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
  5. Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  6. Carefully stuff each cooked shell with the beef and ricotta mixture and arrange them in the baking dish.
  7. Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the shells, then sprinkle with the shredded mozzarella cheese.
  8. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
  9. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

For best results, use freshly grated cheese. The assembled dish can be refrigerated for 24 hours or frozen for 3 months before baking.
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