Shells stuffed with ground beef

Jumbo shells made for stuffing

Italians have made every shape of pasta imaginable. Have you ever made one? Macaroni and cheese Why not try using shell macaroni instead of the traditional elbow shape? It’s so much fun to reshape it for kids.

Even cooler is shell-shaped pasta (Conchiglioni Meaning “shells” in Italian, these are containers large enough to be stuffed with a variety of fillings, including inside-out lasagna. My stuffed shells recipe with ground beef has its own sauce, but you can stuff them with almost anything.

Materials at hand

1. Jumbo Pasta Shells – You can’t make stuffed pasta if you don’t have any stuffable pasta, right? However, you can use regular pasta if you want to layer it in a casserole dish instead.
2. Ground beef – I chose lean ground beef, but you could also use ground turkey, pork, lamb or chicken. They’re all delicious.
3. seasoning – Onions, garlic, Italian seasoningdried thyme and basil give it a traditional Italian flavor.
4. sauce – A blend of tomato paste and spaghetti sauce that’s the perfect satisfying sauce for ground beef.
5. spinach Adds flavor and nutrition.
6. cheese – Topping the stuffed shells with grated mozzarella and Parmesan creates soul-satisfying flavor.
7. Garnish – Fresh parsley sprinkled on top is beautiful and delicious.

How to make ground beef shell bread

• preheat Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C). Cook pasta shells according to package directions. (photo1)
• Cook beef – While the shells are cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the ground beef until evenly browned, about 2 to 3 minutes. (Photo 2)
• sauce – Add the onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, thyme, tomato paste, 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce (reserve the rest), salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 2-3 minutes and then add the fresh basil and spinach. Stir fry until softened. (Photos 3 to 8)

• thing – Once the shells and meat sauce are prepared, place the shells, right side up, in a large baking dish. Stuff 1½ tablespoons of the meat mixture into the opening of each shell. Then spoon the reserved spaghetti sauce over the top. (Photos 9 to 11)
• bake – Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan mixture on top. Bake for 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and starting to brown. (Photo 12)
• serve – Remove from heat and let stuffed shells rest for about 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley if desired. Serve warm.

Other Shell Stuffing Ideas

1. Classic RicottaFor extra flavor, mix 1 cup of ricotta cheese into the ground beef just before stuffing.
2. More cheeseYou can also use Pecorino Romano or Feta in place of the grated Parmesan. Fontina, Gruyere, Provolone, and Monterey Jack all make great cheese mixes.
3. More flavorful additionsSautéed mushrooms, diced pepperoni, sausage, chopped olives, diced peppers, and roasted vegetables are great for a stuffing party.
4. Tuna stuffed shells. Mix tuna, celery, mayonnaise, shredded carrots and bell peppers and stuff them into the cooked shells – perfect for a summer picnic or lunch.
5. time SaverSimply boil small pasta shells, layer with pasta, ground beef, sauce and grated cheese, bake as usual and you’ve got a lasagna-style dinner ready in no time.
6. Gluten FreeFor a gluten-free friend, buy some corn tortillas and make them enchiladas. Stuff the tortillas with the filling and roll them into tubes. Place the enchiladas in a baking dish with a little sauce. Pour on the remaining sauce and sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake and serve as usual.

Preparation tips

I usually assemble the ground beef stuffed pasta shells in a casserole ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Then when it’s time for dinner, pop them in the oven and bake as directed. It’s an easy dinner for busy weeknights! 😉

Shortcuts

• To make them quickly in advance, you can put the filling in uncooked shells – the shells won’t hold much filling and they will absorb the liquid, so you’ll need to make more sauce.
• Fill the shells and plate the casserole in the same way. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake according to recipe instructions. Cook pasta al dente in the oven.

To freeze stuffed shells, place the filling in an oven-safe casserole dish, cover with plastic wrap and press the wrap down to remove as much air as possible, then cover with aluminum foil and freeze for 3 to 4 months.

Thaw stuffed shells in the refrigerator overnight or bake frozen (Remove wrap and foilCover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake until bubbly and the cheese is lightly browned.

What goes with stuffed shells?

I love pasta and homemade bread. Garlic bread, Garlic knot breador Easy dinner rolls All of these are great options. To make them healthier: Caesar or Greek Salad.

Luxurious cheese pasta recipe

Can’t get enough of cheesy pasta night? With so many recipes to choose from, they’re perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining.

1. Baked Ziti
2. Easy Lasagna
3. Ground beef casserole
4. Chicken Spaghetti
5. Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese
6. Chili Mac and Cheese

This blog post was originally published in January 2020 and has been updated with additional tips and beautiful photography.