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Delicious baked stuffed shells with meat and cheese, perfect for quick weeknight dinners.

Quick Stuffed Shells With Meat And Cheese Recipe for Busy Weeknights

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Quick Stuffed Shells With Meat And Cheese is the ultimate weeknight comfort food, perfect for busy families. This dish combines hearty meat, creamy cheese, and satisfying pasta shells, all baked to perfection in about an hour.

  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • Large pasta shells
  • Ground meat (beef, turkey, or a mix)
  • Ricotta cheese
  • Mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • Grated Parmesan cheese
  • Egg
  • Tomato sauce
  • Onion, chopped
  • Garlic, minced
  • Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
  2. In a large skillet, brown the ground meat over medium heat. Remove excess grease. Add chopped onion and minced garlic, cooking until softened. Stir in tomato sauce and Italian seasoning, then season with salt and pepper. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
  3. In a large bowl, mix ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and egg until fully combined. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce in a baking dish. Stuff each shell with the cheese mixture and place them in the dish. Pour the remaining meat sauce over the stuffed shells and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
  5. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Notes

  • Don’t overcook the shells to prevent them from falling apart when stuffed.
  • Make ahead: Assemble the stuffed shells in advance and refrigerate until ready to bake.
  • Customize your filling: Add spinach, mushrooms, or different cheeses for variation.
  • Use fresh ingredients for the best flavor.
  • Author: Serena Miller
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Omni

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 450 Kcal
  • Sugar: 5g
  • Sodium: 650mg
  • Fat: 25g
  • Saturated Fat: 10g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 32g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 25g
  • Cholesterol: 100mg