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Stuffed Shells: The Ultimate Comfort Dish

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Stuffed Shells are a classic Italian-American comfort dish featuring jumbo pasta shells filled with a rich mixture of cheeses, herbs, and sometimes meats or vegetables, all baked in a savory marinara sauce. This hearty meal is perfect for family dinners and gatherings.

 

Ingredients

– 20 jumbo pasta shells (approximately 6 ounces)

– 2 tablespoons olive oil

– 1 small onion, chopped

– 3 cloves garlic, minced

– 1/2 pound ground beef

– 1 (24-ounce) jar pasta sauce

– 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese

– 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

– 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

– 1 large egg

– 2 tablespoons dried parsley

– 1 teaspoon dried oregano

– 1/2 teaspoon salt

– 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. **Cook the Pasta Shells**: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the jumbo pasta shells and cook until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and set aside to cool.

2. **Prepare the Meat Sauce**: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute. Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat. Pour in the pasta sauce, stir to combine, and let simmer for 10 minutes.

3. **Make the Cheese Filling**: In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, beaten egg, dried parsley, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well combined.

4. **Stuff the Shells**: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Fill each cooked pasta shell with the cheese mixture, using about 2 tablespoons per shell, and place them in the baking dish.

5. **Assemble the Dish**: Pour the remaining meat sauce over the stuffed shells. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella over the top.

6. **Bake**: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.

7. **Serve**: Let the stuffed shells cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with additional parsley or Parmesan cheese if desired.

 

Notes

– **Make-Ahead Option**: Assemble the stuffed shells up to a day in advance, cover, and refrigerate. Add an extra 10 minutes to the baking time when ready to cook.

– **Freezing Instructions**: To freeze, assemble the dish but do not bake. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, remove the plastic wrap, cover with foil, and bake from frozen at 375°F (190°C) for about 1 hour, removing the foil during the last 10 minutes to brown the cheese.

– **Variations**: For a vegetarian version, omit the ground beef and add sautéed spinach or mushrooms to the cheese filling. Alternatively, substitute ground beef with Italian sausage for a different flavor profile.

 

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.cookflash.com/stuffed-shells-the-ultimate-comfort-dish/