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Cheese Stuffed Pasta Shells with Meat Sauce

August 11, 2018 By Lalaine 4 Comments

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Stuffed Pasta Shells with Meat Sauce perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining a crowd! With jumbo shells, creamy ricotta filling and hearty meat sauce, it’s sure to be a family favorite!

Stuffed Pasta Shells with Meat Sauce and cheese baked in casserole dish
Stuffed Pasta Shells with Meat Sauce

Ricotta-stuffed pasta shells are one of my favorite pasta dishes to make for weeknight dinners at home and for good reason. They take twenty minutes or less to prep yet tastes like you slaved in the kitchen all afternoon long.

Today, however, we’re kicking up the flavors of these stuffed pasta shells to a whole new level of yum. Along with the creamy ricotta filling, we’re baking them in a hearty meat sauce and MORE cheese! This recipe takes a bit more work than simply making it with marinara sauce but so worth the extra effort!

Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with ricotta cheese and layered on meat sauce in a casserole dish

Tips on How to Make Stuffed Pasta Shells with Meat sauce

  • To amp up the flavor and nutrition, add mushrooms to the bolognese sauce. Just chop about 1/2 pound and then brown along with the garlic, onions, and bell peppers.
  • To add a bit of heat, swap part of the ground beef with Italian sausage.
  • For al dente or “firm-to-bite” texture, boil the pasta a minute shy of the package directions as they will continue to cook in the sauce when baked.
  • Use a cookie scoop to easily and evenly fill the shells.
  • A 9 x 13 casserole dish would fit about 24 stuffed shells so you would need half of a 12-ounce box of jumbo shells which has approximately 46 shells. I recommend boiling a few extras to allow for breakage.
  • The meat sauce will be very saucy and the dish will look a bit wet out of the oven. Give it a few minutes to set as the pasta will soak up most of the liquid.

cheese stuffed jumbo pasta shells with meat sauce in a red casserole dish to bake

How to Freeze Stuffed Shells

Not only is this stuffed jumbo shells pasta dish the ultimate comfort food, it’s also a great make-ahead meal.

Prepare according to the recipe except the baking. Arrange in a freezer-to-oven safe baking dish, cover tightly first with film and then foil, and refrigerate for up three days or freeze for up to three months.

To freeze the stuffed shells without the sauce, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze for about 30 to 40 minutes or until firm, and transfer to airtight containers or resealable bags.

stuffed pasta shells with meat sauce and shredded mozzarella in a casserole dish ready to bake

How to Cook Frozen Stuffed Shells

Thaw the assembled pasta dish overnight in the refrigerator and bake in a 400 F oven for about 30 to 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

If using frozen shells, arrange them in a single layer with the meat sauce in a casserole dish and top with shredded cheese. Cover with foil and bake in a 350 F oven for about 50 to 60 minutes or until shells are hot and cheese is melted.

cheese stuffed jumbo pasta shells with meat shells on a serving spoon

Give this stuffed pasta recipe a try for dinner tonight! It’s heart, full of flavor and makes a fabulous weeknight dinner meal with green salad and garlic bread.

Jumbo pasta shells with ricotta filling and meat sauce on a serving plate

More Easy Pasta Recipes:

  • Angel Hair Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce
  • Penne Alfredo with Broccoli
  • Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
Stuffed Pasta Shells with Meat Sauce and cheese baked in casserole dish
Print Recipe Rate this Recipe

Cheese Stuffed Pasta Shells with Meat Sauce

5 from 5 votes
Cheese Stuffed Pasta Shells with Meat Sauce perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining a crowd! With jumbo shells, creamy ricotta filling and hearty meat sauce, it's sure to be a family favorite!
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time1 hr 10 mins
Total Time1 hr 30 mins
Course: Main Entree, Pasta
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: stuffed pasta shells
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 442kcal
Author: Lalaine

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 onion, peeled and chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 1/2 green or red bell pepper, seeded, cored and chopped
  • 1 can (24 ounces) marinara sauce
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 24 pieces jumbo pasta shells
  • 24 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 2 cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 egg, beaten

Instructions

  • In a large pot over medium heat, add ground beef and cook, stirring and breaking apart with the back of a spoon, until lightly browned and releases fat. With a slotted spoon, remove meat from pan and set aside. Discard grease except for about 1 tablespoon.
  • Add onions, garlic, and sweet peppers and cook until softened.
  • Add browned ground beef back to the pot.
  • Add marinara sauce and beef broth. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil.
  • Add sugar, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning..
  • Lower heat, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes or until meat is cooked. 
  • Meanwhile, in a pot of boiling water, cook jumbo shells about 1 minute shy of package directions. Drain, layer on a sheet pan, and allow to cool.
  • In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and egg. 
  • Using a small scoop or tablespoon, stuff pasta shells with cheese mixture.
  • In a greased baking dish, add half of the meat sauce. and spread to cover the bottom of the pan. 
  • Arrange stuffed shells open side up in a single layer. Cover with remaining sauce and sprinkle top with the remaining 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese. 
  • Cover with foil and bake in a 400 F oven for about 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly and cheese is melted. Serve hot.

Notes

Nutritional Info calculated at 3 stuffed pasta shells per serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 442kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 128mg | Sodium: 1189mg | Potassium: 613mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 20.4% | Vitamin C: 16.1% | Calcium: 38.5% | Iron: 15.2%
Tried this recipe? I'd love to see what you made!mention @Onionringsandthings and hashtag photo with #onionringsandthings
Stuffed Pasta Shells with Ricotta filling and meat sauce
Cheese Stuffed Pasta Shells with Meat Sauce
Cheese Stuffed Pasta Shells with Meat Sauce in casserole dish
Stuffed Pasta Shells with Ricotta filling and meat sauce
Cheese Stuffed Pasta Shells with Meat Sauce
Stuffed Pasta Shells with Ricotta filling and meat sauce

 

More Great Stuff:

Swedish Meatballs
15-Minute Chili
Easy Pesto Pasta Salad
Meatballs with Creamy Tomato Sauce
Cheese Stuffed Pasta Shells with Meat Sauce made with jumbo shells, creamy ricotta filling, meat sauce, and mozzarella cheese that's sure to be a family favorite. Perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining a crowd!

Filed Under: Eggs and Dairy, Meat and Poultry, Potatoes, Pasta and Rice Tagged With: ground beef, pasta, ricotta cheese, tomato sauce

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Lalaine from The Recipe Pot

Hello! My name is Lalaine and Welcome to Onion Rings and Things where you’ll find comfort food recipes, crafts, and printables. Read more...

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jessis says

    August 16, 2018 at 8:58 pm


    These stuffed shell’s looks so tasty! adding these ingredients to my shopping list.

    Reply
    • Lalaine says

      August 17, 2018 at 5:34 am

      Thank you, Jessis! I am sure you’ll enjoy them 🙂

      Reply
  2. Aleta says

    August 15, 2018 at 9:41 pm


    Wow this recipe looks AMAZING! My kids would absolutely love the shells. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Lalaine says

      August 17, 2018 at 5:35 am

      Yes, they’ll definitely love these shells. 🙂

      Reply

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