Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce

If you're looking to impress your loved ones, this recipe for Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce is guaranteed to do the trick. Tender pasta shells are stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach, then topped off with a delicious meat sauce and melted cheese. This mouthwatering dish is sure to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters, and will leave them wanting more!

Course Main

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1 5

Servings

Calories 453kcal

Author Wendy Polisi

Ingredients

9 ounces jumbo pasta shells

Meat Sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
16 ounces lean ground beef
1 tablespoon minced garlic
6 ounces tomato paste
28 ounces crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

Cheese Filling

15 ounces ricotta cheese
10 ounces chopped frozen spinach thawed and drained
1 egg beaten
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Topping

1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cook according to package directions. Drain and reserve 1 cup of the cooking water.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook, breaking up with the back of a spoon, until browned. (About 5 minutes.). Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
Add the tomato paste and stir in, and then the crushed tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook for 10 minutes, adding the reserved cooking water to adjust the consistency as desired.
While the meat sauce is cooking, stir together the ricotta cheese, spinach, egg, parsley, and parmesan in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
Stuff the mixture into the cooked pasta shells.
Put ⅓ of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 13 x 9 baking pan.
Arrange the stuffed shells on top of the meat sauce, and top with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese.
Cook for 30 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

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