Cheesy Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef Meat Sauce

This easy and delicious beef stuffed shells recipe combines a super cheesy stuffed shell with a quick and flavorful meat sauce for the ultimate weeknight ready comfort food meal the whole family will enjoy!

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Easy, Cheesy Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef Meat Sauce

A comfort food classic, these stuffed pasta shells with hearty meat sauce are a great weeknight meal the whole family will enjoy!

This delicious recipe comes together quickly with a simple and flavorful ground beef sauce, creamy, cheesy stuffed shells, and a generous cheese topping.

Serve these meaty cheesy morsels with a light side salad and some crusty garlic bread for the ultimate comfort food meal!

Ingredients

These easy stuffed shells come together easily, making them a perfect weeknight meal. Here's what you'll need to make them:

Stuffed Shells

These ultra cheesy stuffed shells are super easy to make. Just combine lots of flavorful cheeses, a few spices, and an egg to hold it all together!

• 24 jumbo pasta shells. You should have some leftover from a 12 oz box.
• 15 oz whole milk ricotta cheese. The whole milk, full fat variety will yield the creamiest filling.
• 8 oz shredded Italian blend cheese (plus 4 oz for topping). A pre-shredded bag from your local grocer is perfect for this recipe!
• A ball of fresh mozzarella, torn into small pieces. The fresh mozzarella adds a creamy, luscious texture to the stuffed shells. 
• Crushed red pepper flakes, for a little kick. 
• Salt and fresh ground black pepper.
• Fresh grated nutmeg. Grating whole nutmeg is ideal, as it has the best flavor. 
• 1 egg, to bind everything together. 

Ground Beef Sauce

The meaty sauce for these stuffed shells comes together in just about 20 minutes, with a few simple ingredients. To make the sauce, you will need:

• A bit of olive oil, for cooking down the onions.
• Lean ground beef. If you use ground beef with a higher fat percentage, you may want to skim the fat prior to adding the seasonings and garlic to remove any excess grease.
• 1 small onion, diced.
• 4 cloves garlic, minced.
• Dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and fresh ground black pepper. 
• A large can of plain tomato sauce.
• A tiny bit of sugar, to balance the acidity in the tomato sauce.

Making the ground beef sauce for the beef stuffed shells recipe

1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. 
2. Add onions and cook until translucent, 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
3. Add ground beef and cook until brown and cooked through, 4-5 minutes. 
4. Add garlic, basil, oregano, salt and pepper and sugar and stir well. Cook 1 minute, stirring, until just fragrant.
5. Add the tomato sauce and stir well. Cook on medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

How to make the beef stuffed shells recipe

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 
2. Cook your shells according to package directions for al dente in boiling, salted water, drain, and set aside to cool.
3. Grease a large baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray, and ladle in half the sauce. Spread into an even layer. 
4. Make the ricotta filling: In a medium mixing bowl, combine ricotta, shredded Italian blend cheese, torn fresh mozzarella, egg, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir until well combined. 
5. Stuff the cooled shells with the cheese mixture, and place cheese side up in the baking dish over the sauce layer. 
6. Spoon remaining sauce over the shells, and 4 oz shredded Italian blend cheese. 
7. Cover baking dish with foil, and bake covered for 20 minutes on the top shelf of the oven. 
8. After 20 minutes, remove the foil, and bake uncovered for an additional 10-15 minutes, until cheese is browned and bubbly. 

Make Ahead

You can make these stuffed shells in advance! Assemble, cool to room temperature, cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap, and transfer the casserole dish to the refrigerator for up to 2 days prior to baking!

Storing leftovers

Leftover shells will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days stored in an airtight container. You can also make them ahead in a foil baking dish and freeze them for up to 2 months prior to baking. I recommend thawing overnight prior to baking.

How many stuffed shells per person?

This recipe is for 6 people, with healthy appetites, at 4 shells per person. 3 shells is a great serving, and 2 for those with smaller appetites. Depending on what you serve with these, they can really go a long way!

Substitutions and Variations

• Use a blend of any shredded Italian cheese you like in place of the Italian cheese blend. Some great options are Fontina, Parmesan, Asiago and Provolone.
• Try mild or hot Italian sausage, ground turkey, or ground pork in place of the ground beef. You can also so a meat mixture of lean ground beef and Italian sausage! 
• Use an equal amount of marinara sauce in place of the tomato sauce. 
• Omit the meat altogether for a quick and easy vegetarian option.

What to serve with the beef stuffed shells recipe

These meaty, cheesy stuffed shells go great with a simple side salad, tomato salad, or some crusty garlic bread. This meaty main dish is a great addition to a pot luck or holiday spread, too!

Hungry for more pasta recipes?

If you love this beef stuffed shells recipe, you'll also love these delicious pasta recipes!

• Easy Spaghetti Arrabbiata
• Easy Bucatini Pasta Amatriciana with Calabrian Chiles
• Easy Lamb Bolognese
• Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta
• Spicy Vodka Pasta
• Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta
• One Pot Sausage Artichoke Pasta Bake

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