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Cheesy Stuffed Pasta Shells

Delicious stuffed pasta shells filled with a creamy beef and cheese mixture, topped with marinara sauce and baked to perfection.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 580
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Filling
  • 12 pieces Large pasta shells
  • 1 lb Ground beef
  • 15 oz Ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese Grated
  • 1 cup Mozzarella cheese Shredded
  • 1 large Egg
  • 2 cloves Garlic Minced
  • 1 medium Onion Chopped
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Pepper
  • 2 tbsp Olive oil For sautéing
  • 1/4 cup Fresh basil Chopped (optional)
Sauce
  • 2 cups Marinara sauce

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Cook the large pasta shells according to package instructions, drain, and set aside.
  3. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic, sauté until translucent.
  4. Add ground beef, cooking until browned. Season with salt and pepper, then remove from heat.
  5. In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, cooked beef mixture, egg, Parmesan cheese, and chopped basil (if using).
  6. Stuff each cooked pasta shell with the beef and cheese mixture.
  7. Spread a layer of marinara sauce on the bottom of a baking dish.
  8. Place the stuffed shells on top of the sauce, then cover with more marinara sauce and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
Baking
  1. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
  2. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
  3. Let cool slightly before serving.

Notes

Serve piping hot, garnished with fresh basil. Pair with a crisp salad or garlic bread. Brown the beef for better flavor. Cheese variations can be made for extra flair. You can prep the dish ahead of time.