Easy Stuffed Pasta Shells
Looking for an easy and budget-friendly dinner recipe? These Italian stuffed pasta shells are so delicious.
This family recipe is always a hit and is a great solution for weeknight meals. It’s filling and so budget-friendly, aside from being so yummy.
Can I substitute the ground meat for plant-based protein?
Absolutely! I’ve used Beyond Beef and Impossible Foods Impossible Burger ground “beef” instead of animal protein for my vegetarian family members. The kids never noticed the difference. This is also a great option if you want a kosher-friendly version.
Can I make this recipe the night before?
I know how busy life gets on any given moment and I have done all the prepping the night before. I even leave the casserole dish in the fridge, covered, so all I need to do is pop it in the oven for 30-40 minutes and dinner is ready.
Can I freeze these stuffed pasta shells?
Yes! This is a great freezer meal. Think of it as a casserole. Just prep everything and leave in a covered casserole dish. Freeze for up to two months. Once you are ready to serve, bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Since oven times vary, check at the 40 minute mark to ensure the shells are done.
Stuffed pasta shells
Makes 8 servings – serving size 5 shells
Ingredients:
● 12 oz package jumbo shells
● 1 lb ground beef (or plant-based ground “beef”)
● 4 oz mushrooms
● 16 oz cottage cheese
● 16 oz mozzarella cheese
● 48 oz pasta sauce
● 1 tbsp italian seasonings
● 1 tsp garlic powder
● Salt and pepper to your taste
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F or 177 C.
2. Add ground beef to a medium skillet, and sprinkle with some of the italian seasoning and garlic,
then add salt and pepper. Brown the ground beef over medium heat, and drain grease.
3. While the meat is cooking, fill a large stock pot halfway with water, then add the pasta shells. Boil
on high until pasta is al dente.
4. While the meat and pasta are cooking, chop the mushrooms.
5. Add cottage cheese, 12 oz of the mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, the rest of the italian
seasoning and garlic, along with a dash of salt and pepper to a large bowl. Once the ground beef
is done, add that, along with 16 oz of the pasta sauce. Stir well.
6. Once the shells are cooked, drain, and rinse with cold water until they are not steaming hot, as
you will be handling these with your hands.
7. Cover the bottom of a large casserole dish with a thin layer of pasta sauce.
8. Using a small spoon, fill the pasta shells, and set them gently into the baking dish, side by side.
9. Pour pasta sauce over the shells, as well as the remainder of the mozzarella cheese.
10. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
11. Serve hot, and sprinkle servings with parmesan cheese if desired.
Let me know if you make these Italian stuffed pasta shells for dinner and whether your family enjoys them as much as mine does.
Italian stuffed pasta shells
Ingredients
- 12 oz package jumbo shells
- 1 lb ground beef
- 4 oz mushrooms
- 16 oz cottage cheese
- 16 oz mozzarella cheese
- 48 oz pasta sauce
- 1 tbsp italian seasonings
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to your taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F or 177 C.
- Add ground beef to a medium skillet, and sprinkle with some of the Italian seasoning and garlic, then add salt and pepper. Brown the ground beef over medium heat, and drain grease.
- While the meat is cooking, fill a large stock pot halfway with water, then add the pasta shells. Boil on high until pasta is al dente.
- While the meat and pasta are cooking, chop the mushrooms.
- Add cottage cheese, 12 oz of the mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, the rest of the Italian seasoning and garlic, along with a dash of salt and pepper to a large bowl. Once the ground beef is done, add that, along with 16 oz of the pasta sauce. Stir well.
- Once the shells are cooked, drain, and rinse with cold water until they are not steaming hot, as you will be handling these with your hands.
- Cover the bottom of a large casserole dish with a thin layer of pasta sauce.
- Using a small spoon, fill the pasta shells, and set them gently into the baking dish, side by side.
- Pour pasta sauce over the shells, as well as the remainder of the mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve hot, and sprinkle servings with parmesan cheese if desired.
More easy dinner recipes
- Chicken-stuffed pasta shells
- Easy Pasta Alla Vodka Recipe
- Delicious baked chicken thighs
- Crunchy chicken tenders
- Garlic parmesan chicken with bow tie pasta
