Beef-Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Large pasta shells brimming with a savory mixture of lean ground beef, creamy ricotta, and aromatic Italian herbs, all baked in a rich marinara sauce and served with crispy garlic bread.

• Prep: 30 min
• Cook: 45 min
• Total: 1 hr 15 min
• Servings: 7
• Cuisine: Italian
• Difficulty: Medium
• Cost: $3.63/serving

Dietary

• High-Protein

Tags

• bake
• comfort food
• savory
• rich
• crowd-pleaser

Ingredients

• 1 pound large pasta shells
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound ground beef (93/7 lean)
• 1 yellow onion (medium, finely diced)
• 3 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 15 ounce ricotta cheese
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
• 28 ounce marinara sauce
• 8 slice garlic bread

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook pasta shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to prevent sticking. Set aside.
2. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and onion, cooking until beef is browned and onion is softened, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat. Stir in minced garlic, dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, cooking for 1 minute more until fragrant.
3. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh parsley, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Stir in the cooked ground beef mixture.
4. Spread about half of the marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Carefully fill each cooked pasta shell with the beef and ricotta mixture and arrange them in a single layer over the sauce.
5. Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the stuffed shells. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.
6. While the shells bake, prepare the garlic bread according to package directions.
7. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Serve hot with garlic bread.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 746
• Protein: 37.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 82.1 g
• Fat: 30.4 g
• Fiber: 6.9 g
• Sodium: 1352 mg
• Saturated Fat: 12.5 g
• Sugar: 11.9 g
• Cholesterol: 92 mg