Description
Creamy ricotta and spinach stuffed shells bring Mediterranean comfort to dinner tables. Baked golden and bubbling with rich marinara, these pasta pockets deliver hearty satisfaction that beckons you to savor each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 20 jumbo pasta shells
- 12 pound (226 grams) ground beef
- 24 ounces (680 grams) pasta sauce or homemade meat sauce
- 15 ounces (425 grams) ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 12 cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
Binding and Cooking Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook jumbo pasta shells until al dente. Drain and rinse with cool water to stop cooking and ease handling.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onions and minced garlic until fragrant, approximately 3 minutes.
- Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart and cooking until completely browned with no pink remaining. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Pour pasta sauce into the meat mixture, stirring to combine. Simmer on low heat to blend flavors thoroughly.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the egg, then combine ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and dried parsley until well mixed.
- Spread one-third of the meat sauce evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Carefully stuff each pasta shell with the cheese mixture, placing them open side up in the baking dish.
- Cover the stuffed shells completely with remaining meat sauce.
- Seal the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven.
- Remove foil, sprinkle remaining mozzarella over the shells, and return to oven for an additional 5-10 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden.
- Allow the dish to rest for a few minutes before serving, letting the flavors settle and making it easier to plate.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner, lighter version of the dish that’s perfect for health-conscious eaters.
- Add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to the meat sauce for those who enjoy a subtle kick of heat and want to elevate the flavor profile.
- Test pasta shell doneness by ensuring they’re tender but still firm enough to hold the cheese filling without falling apart during baking.
- Prepare the dish ahead of time by assembling and refrigerating, then bake when ready to serve, making it an excellent make-ahead meal for busy families.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg