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Creamy Beef & Cheese Stuffed Shells

A comforting blend of savory beef, creamy cheese, and fluffy pasta shells, perfect for busy weeknights.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 600

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Sauce
  • 1 box jumbo pasta shells
  • 1 jar marinara sauce store-bought or homemade
Meat and Cheese Filling
  • 1 pound ground beef use lean
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese divided
Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish
  • Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the jumbo pasta shells according to the package instructions until they're al dente. Drain and set aside.
Cooking the Beef
  1. In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Add garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook until no longer pink. Drain excess grease and cool for a few minutes.
Mixing Filling
  1. In a bowl, combine ricotta, half of the mozzarella, and half of the Parmesan cheeses. Stir in the cooled beef mixture until fully blended.
Stuffing Shells
  1. Stuff each pasta shell with the beef and cheese mixture.
Baking
  1. Spread marinara sauce at the bottom of a baking dish. Place stuffed shells seam-side-up and pour remaining marinara over them. Top with the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover with foil and bake for about 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Serving
  1. Allow the shells to cool slightly. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.

Notes

Pasta should be cooked al dente for easy stuffing. You can swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based meat. Feel free to use a favorite homemade marinara recipe.