Description
These cheesy stuffed shells with ground beef and Italian sausage are baked to perfection in a rich marinara sauce, creating the ultimate comfort food. Perfect for a family dinner or meal prep, this easy stuffed shells recipe is loaded with flavor and topped with melted mozzarella for a deliciously satisfying dish!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Meat Sauce:
- 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
For the Filling:
- 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
- 1 tsp kosher salt
For the Pasta:
- 1 box jumbo shells
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- Fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook Pasta: Cook the jumbo shells according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the diced bell peppers until soft. Add the ground sausage and beef, cooking until browned. Stir in the marinara sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for a few minutes, then set aside.
- Make the Filling: In a large bowl, mix together the ricotta, spinach, eggs, mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic powder, and salt until well combined.
- Stuff the Shells: Fill each cooked jumbo shell with the ricotta mixture, making sure they are well-packed.
- Assemble: Spread a few spoonfuls of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 13-inch baking dish. Arrange the stuffed shells in a single layer over the sauce. Pour the remaining sauce over the top.
- Bake: Cover and bake for 20 minutes at 350°F. Remove from the oven, sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of mozzarella cheese on top, and increase the oven temperature to 375°F. Bake for another 15 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted. For best results, broil for a few minutes at the end for a golden, bubbly top.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- You can use store-bought marinara sauce or homemade sauce for extra flavor.
- Swap spinach for kale or omit it for a simpler filling.
- For extra cheesiness, add more Parmesan on top before baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 920mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg