Beef-Stuffed Shells with Creamy Ricotta Filling Recipe
These Beef-Stuffed Shells with Creamy Ricotta Filling are a comforting Italian-inspired dish featuring tender pasta shells filled with a flavorful mixture of ground beef, ricotta, and cheeses, baked in savory marinara sauce until bubbly and golden. Perfect for a satisfying family dinner.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Shells
- 12 large pasta shells
Filling
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Sauce
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the stuffed shells later.
- Cook the pasta shells: Boil the large pasta shells according to the package instructions until they are al dente. Drain them well and set aside to cool slightly.
- Brown the ground beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until it is fully browned. Drain any excess fat to keep the filling less greasy.
- Prepare the filling: In a large bowl, mix the cooked ground beef with ricotta cheese, half of the shredded mozzarella cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Stuff the shells: Carefully fill each cooked pasta shell with the beef and cheese mixture, making sure they are generously filled.
- Prepare the baking dish: Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce evenly over the bottom of a baking dish to prevent sticking and add flavor.
- Arrange the stuffed shells: Place the beef-stuffed shells in the baking dish on top of the marinara sauce. Cover them with the remaining 1 cup of marinara sauce.
- Add cheese topping: Sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the assembled shells to create a golden, cheesy crust.
- Cover and bake: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes to warm through and meld flavors.
- Finish baking uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese topping is bubbly and golden brown.
Notes
- To save time, you can prepare the filling mixture ahead and refrigerate it before assembling.
- Use whole wheat pasta shells for a healthier twist.
- Feel free to add chopped spinach or fresh herbs to the filling for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Make sure not to overcook the pasta shells initially since they will continue cooking in the oven.
Keywords: beef stuffed shells, ricotta filling, baked pasta shells, Italian stuffed shells, cheesy stuffed pasta