Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef

This easy family recipe for Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef is sure to be a crowd-pleaser! Ground beef, mozzarella, ricotta and Parmesan make up the filling along with a jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce, before being topped with parmesan before being baked until tender, melty and bubbly!

What Makes This Recipe So Good

• It could not be easier to get these stuffed shells with ground beef on the table for dinner tonight. You can get started with the filling while the shells cook and cool enough to handle, and we’ve used your favorite brand of spaghetti sauce to ease up the pressure of making one yourself!
• You could serve these beef stuffed shells as a meal on their own, but salad and garlic bread always work well to stretch a baked pasta dish even further!

Chef’s Tips

• Always cook a few extra shells than you need to allow for some to tear during cooking!
• If you don’t want to use ground beef, ground pork or ground turkey would also work well in this recipe.
• If you find there is not enough fat coming out of your ground beef to cook the onions, feel free to add a splash of neutral cooking oil to help things along. 

More Delicious Pasta Recipes You’ll Love

• Tuna Alfredo Pasta Recipe
• Cheesecake Factory Copycat Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta
• Vegan Rasta Pasta Recipe
• Simple Chicken Cannelloni Recipe
• Creamy Cajun Salmon Pasta
• Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole Recipe

Easy Ground Beef Stuffed Shells

These easy, saucy stuffed shells are the ultimate family dinner! Filled with ground beef, ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan they're baked with your favorite spaghetti sauce until bubbly and tender!

• 13×9-inch baking dish

• 24 jumbo pasta shells (boiled and drained according to package, plus a few extra to allow for breakages)
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 small onion (chopped)
• 15 oz ricotta
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella
• ½ cup grated parmesan (plus extra for topping)
• 24-26 oz spaghetti sauce (one jar)
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon italian seasoning blend
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Cook the pasta according to package directions, drain well and set aside.

3. Cook the ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium heat until the beef is lightly browned, and the onions are soft and starting to take on some color. Remove from the heat and pour off any excess drippings, if necessary.

4. Mix together the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and egg in a large bowl. Stir the ground beef mixture until totally combined.

5. Spread 1 cup of spaghetti sauce in a 13×9-inch baking dish.

6. Spoon about ¼ cup of the cheese/ground beef mixture into each shell, and place in the baking dish in a single layer.

7. Sprinkle any remaining meat mixture over the shells.

8. Top the shells with the remaining spaghetti sauce. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese. Whatever you have leftover from the pack or block of cheese should work fine.

9. Bake for 25 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. The cheese should be melted, and the sauce should be bubbling!

Add oil: If you find there is not enough fat coming out of your ground beef to cook the onions, feel free to add a splash of neutral cooking oil to help things along. 

Cook extra shells: Always cook a few extra shells than you need to allow for some to tear during cooking!

Change the protein: If you don’t want to use ground beef, ground pork or ground turkey would also work well in this recipe.

Main Course

American

family dinner, family favorite, pasta night