Beef Recipes, Casseroles/Baked/One Pot Recipes, Easy Recipes, Pasta Recipes

Baked Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Posted by Davina on

Baked Ricotta Stuffed shells are one of my favorite quick comfort meals. This is also a family favorite for sure! Great idea for your holiday menu! This recipe is very easy and does not take long to make. Also, a fun meal to make with your children or even for a romantic dinner date. The flavors of this baked pasta is so bomb! You have to try it! Its something about the ricotta baked into the meat sauce for me. This bake is so fulfilling you may choose to just eat only the stuffed shells. But these shells go great with garlic bread and a side vegetable of your choice. Did I mention this meal is budget friendly. Well, I’m not going to waste anymore time lets get into this recipe.

Baked Ricotta Stuffed Shells with a Garlic Knot

Details

Servings

4-5 servings

Prep time

30 minutes

Cooking time

1 hour/ 50 minutes

Seasonings used on beef:

garlic powder, all purpose seasoning, beef bouillon, black pepper, Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic and herb

Serving Idea

Add a crisp chopped salad or corn on the cob, garlic bread

PrintPrint

Ingredients

  • 1lb of ground beef

  • At least- ( 24 oz) 2 jars of pasta sauce , I like to use tomato basil and traditional

  • 1/2 onion

  • 1 green bell pepper

  • 1 box of jumbo shells (12oz)

  • Ricotta cheese (32oz)

  • 1 Egg

  • 16oz bag of shredded mozzarella cheese

  • 1 cup of mix shredded cheddar cheese or your choice of cheese. Parmesan cheese works good too!

  • Seasonings used for ricotta mix- Oregano black pepper, Italian seasoning

  • 1-2 tbsp of cooking oil

Mix Ricotta, cheddar cheese, parsley, oregano, egg together
Add sauce to the bottom of the pan. Stuff the shells with ricotta mix and layer in the pan
Add meat sauce, and cheese. Place in the oven
PrintPrint

Directions

  • First, start heating your pot of cold water for pasta. When your water starts to boil add a splash of olive oil, then the jumbo pasta shells. Turn heat to medium low let cook for at least 10 minutes. ( make sure to stir pasta while cooking)
  • While your shells are cooking, start chopping up your onion and bell pepper. Also, start cooking ground beef.
  • Add your seasoning, onion, bell pepper to ground beef. Cook beef until brown. Drain extra oil when done if needed and set to the side.
  • Preheat Oven to 375 Degrees
  • When your shells are done, drain and set aside to cool.
  • Mix together ground beef and pasta sauce together, and set to the side.
  • Now dump the ricotta in a mixing bowl, add 1 egg, cheddar cheese mix , black pepper, oregano, Italian seasoning, then mix everything together.
  • Next start stuffing your shells with the ricotta mix, laying each in a row or until pan is full ( Add some of the pasta mix to the bottom of the pan ). I add a layer of mozzarella cheese on top, then add the beef pasta sauce mix evenly over the shells. Then top with mozzarella cheese. (Baking dish or aluminum foil pan is fine!)
  • Bake covered for 60 minutes and bake uncovered for at least 40-45minutes
  • Let cool for 6-7 minute’s before serving
Baked Ricotta Stuffed Shells