Description
Indulge in the comforting flavors of Stuffed Shells with Meat, a delightful twist on a classic Italian dish. These jumbo pasta shells are filled with a savory mixture of ground beef and Italian sausage, blended with creamy ricotta and spinach, and generously topped with rich marinara sauce and gooey mozzarella cheese. Perfect for family dinners or meal prep, this recipe is easy to make and promises to impress both kids and adults alike. Whether you’re looking for a hearty weeknight meal or a dish for entertaining guests, these stuffed shells will become a family favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 3/4 – 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- 3/4 – 1 lb ground beef
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 32 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup cooked spinach, drained and chopped
- 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan
- 1 tsp garlic powder (additional)
- 1 tsp kosher salt (additional)
- 1 box jumbo shells
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese (for topping)
- Fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook the jumbo shells according to the package instructions until al dente; drain them well and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil and sauté the diced red and green bell peppers until soft. Add both ground sausage and beef; cook until browned. Stir in the marinara sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and black pepper; let it simmer for a few minutes and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, chopped spinach, eggs, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and kosher salt; mix until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Carefully fill each cooked jumbo shell with the ricotta mixture, packing them firmly.
- In a greased 13-inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of meat sauce at the bottom. Arrange the stuffed shells in a single layer over this sauce. Pour any leftover meat sauce over the shells evenly.
- Cover your baking dish with foil and bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese on top. Increase oven temperature to 375°F and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes or until bubbly. Broil briefly at the end for an extra golden top.
- Garnish with fresh parsley before serving warm.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed shell (120g)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 70mg