Beef-Stuffed Shells with Creamy Ricotta Filling
These Beef-Stuffed Shells with Creamy Ricotta Filling are a delicious comfort food option that's perfect for a family dinner. The large pasta shells are filled with a savory mixture of ground beef and creamy ricotta cheese, all baked in a rich tomato sauce. It's hearty, flavorful, and guaranteed to satisfy!
Equipment
- 1 large pot
- 1 baking dish (9x13 inch)
- 1 skillet
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 saucepan
Ingredients
- 12 large pasta shells
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- to taste salt
- to taste pepper
- as needed olive oil for cooking
- optional fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta shells according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet over medium heat, add a drizzle of olive oil. Sauté the minced garlic for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked ground beef, ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and the egg. Mix until well combined.
- Pour half of the marinara sauce into the bottom of the baking dish. Stuff each pasta shell with the beef and ricotta mixture and place them seam-side up in the baking dish.
- Once all shells are filled, pour the remaining marinara sauce over the top. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the sauce.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh basil if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
You can customize the filling by adding cooked spinach, mushrooms, or other vegetables.
Feel free to use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef for a lighter version.
These shells can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator before baking. Just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time if baking from cold.