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.
Details
4-5 servings
15 minutes
1 hour/ 20 minutes
garlic powder, all purpose seasoning, beef bouillon, black pepper, Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic and herb
Add a crisp chopped salad or corn on the cob for a side with garlic bread
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Ingredients
1lb of ground beef
2 jars of pasta sauce or 45 oz jar
1 onion
1 green bell pepper
1 box of jumbo shells
Ricotta cheese – 32oz
Sour cream-8oz
2 cups of mozzarella cheese
1 cup of Triple cheddar cheese or just cheddar
Seasonings for ricotta mix- Oregano , black pepper, Italian seasoning
1-2 tbsp of cooking oil
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.
- Add your seasoned ground beef, onion, bell pepper to a pan to prepare meat sauce. Cook beef until brown. ( Add a few tbsp of cooking oil to pan)
- When your shells are done, drain and set aside to cool and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- When your ground beef is done, drain oil if needed and add pasta sauce to it. Turn off heat and set to the side.
- Now dump the ricotta in a mixing bowl, add sour cream, cheddar cheese, shake a little of 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. Then add your beef pasta sauce mix evenly over the shells. Then top with mozzarella cheese. (Baking dish or aluminum foil pan is fine!)
- Bake covered 1 hour and bake uncovered for at least 15-20 minutes
