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Easy Cheesy Ground Beef Stuffed Shells Bake

Close-up of two baked jumbo pasta shells filled with cheesy ground beef mixture for Cheesy Ground Beef Stuffed Shells Easy Bake.
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Follow these simple steps to make hearty, cheesy ground beef stuffed shells baked in a simple sauce.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box (12 oz) jumbo pasta shells
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the jumbo shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain the shells and rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Set aside.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
  4. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant. Remove from heat.
  5. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, beaten egg, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
  6. Stir the cooked ground beef mixture into the ricotta mixture until fully combined. This is your filling.
  7. Spread about 1 cup of the marinara sauce evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  8. Carefully stuff each cooked shell with the ground beef and cheese filling. Arrange the filled shells in a single layer in the baking dish over the sauce.
  9. Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the stuffed shells.
  10. Sprinkle the 2 cups of mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the shells. Sprinkle with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
  11. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly golden brown.
  12. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • You can prepare the shells and filling a day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Add 10 minutes to the baking time if baking directly from the refrigerator.
  • Use your favorite jarred marinara sauce for simplicity.
  • For extra flavor, add 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley to the ricotta filling mixture.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookerykings.com/cheesy-ground-beef-stuffed-shells-easy-bake/