Ah, Stuffed Shells with Meat 🐄🍝 — a classic Italian-American comfort dish with pasta shells filled with a savory meat mixture, baked in tomato sauce, and topped with melty cheese. Perfect for a hearty family meal!
🐚 Stuffed Shells with Meat
Ingredients (serves 4–6)
For the shells & filling:
- 12–15 jumbo pasta shells
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
- 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil, thyme)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
For the sauce:
- 2 cups marinara or tomato sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional for a little heat)
Topping:
- 1–2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Extra Parmesan cheese, optional
Instructions
- Cook the pasta shells
- Boil shells in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare the meat filling
- In a skillet, sauté onion and garlic in a little olive oil until softened.
- Add ground beef, cook until browned, breaking up chunks.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- In a bowl, combine cooked meat, ricotta, Parmesan, egg, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix until uniform.
- Assemble the shells
- Preheat oven to 375°F / 190°C.
- Spread 1 cup of tomato sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Stuff each cooked shell with the meat mixture and place in the baking dish.
- Pour remaining sauce over the shells.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and extra Parmesan on top.
- Bake
- Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Serve
- Let cool 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.
Pro Tips
- Cheese variations: Mix ricotta with cottage cheese for a lighter filling.
- Vegetable boost: Add spinach, zucchini, or mushrooms to the meat mixture.
- Make ahead: Assemble the dish, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.
- Freezing: Bake, cool completely, then freeze in portions for later meals.
I can also give you:
- 🥬 Spinach and meat stuffed shells (extra veggie-rich)
- 🧄 Garlic and herb meat stuffed shells (for more flavor depth)
- 🍝 Mini stuffed shell bites (perfect for parties)
- 🧀 Three-cheese and meat stuffed shells (extra cheesy indulgence)
Do you want the spinach and meat version that sneaks in extra veggies?
