• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Subscribe

Mindy's Cooking Obsession

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About Me
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Pasta

    Beef Stuffed Pasta Shells

    by Mindy Boyd · Published: May 23, 2016 · Updated: Feb 13, 2025

    Share by text, email, or on social!
    597Pinterest126FacebookEmailRedditXSMSFlipboardBluesky
    723
    SHARES
    Pinterest Hidden Image
    ⏲️ 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Jump to Recipe

    Ground Beef Stuffed Pasta Shells is the ultimate comfort food. This is a great dish to make when company is coming because it will feed quite a few people. Plus everyone loves pasta. 

    I chose to use jar sauce for this recipe to make it as easy as possible. Okay, so I have never actually made homemade marinara sauce. I feel like the companies that make it and sell it at the grocery store have pretty much perfected it. We like many brands and choose a different brand and variety of sauce for different dishes. 

    Close up of three stuffed shells on a white plate with the recipe title in text above them.

    There is one brand in particular that the whole family loves and we use it for spaghetti. Then I use a different brand if I am making manicotti or chicken parmesan. I use the store brand for dishes like this stuffed shell recipe because I am adding other ingredients to it. 

    What about you? Do you use store bought sauce, or make your own? If you buy it, what is your favorite brand? 

    Half of the pan of baked ground beef stuffed shells.
    Jump to:
    • What you will love about this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Ingredient Notes
    • How to make this easy stuffed shells recipe
    • Tips
    • Storage & Reheating
    • More pasta recipes you will love
    • Beef Stuffed Pasta Shells
    Three stuffed pasta shells on a white plate ready to eat.

    What you will love about this recipe

    • Pasta dishes are a crowd pleaser. 
    • It is an easy recipe because we use jar sauce, plus you don’t need a long list of ingredients.
    • There are three types of cheese in this dish! 
    • It heats up well in the microwave. 
    The entire casserole dish of The Best Ground Beef Stuffed Pasta Shells after being baked.

    Ingredients

    See recipe card for exact amounts.

    All of the ingredients needed to make The Best Ground Beef Stuffed Pasta Shells Recipe on a white table.

    Ingredient Notes

    Ground Beef – I use 93/7 ground beef, if using fattier ground beef the excess grease will need to be drained off. Ground chicken, ground turkey or Italian sausage can be used for all or a portion of the beef. You would just brown it the same way you do the ground beef. 

    Spaghetti Sauce – we like inexpensive marinara sauce for this recipe. You can use homemade or your favorite brand and variety. 

    Jumbo Shells – we use a much shorter cooking time than the package directions so they are very al dente. This makes them easier to fill and more importantly, they don’t get mushy. They will cook the rest of the way in the oven. 

    Ricotta Cheese – either full fat or skim milk ricotta will work just great. I have not tried this specific recipe with cottage cheese, it will probably work but would be watery. 

    Mozzarella Cheese – full fat or skim milk cheese will work here too. You can use an Italian cheese blend if you prefer. 

    Parmesan Cheese – I buy the block and shred it myself, pre-shredded will work good too. You could also top the whole dish with the grated parmesan cheese that comes in the can for added cheesy goodness. 

    Italian Seasoning – this usually has oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, and marjoram.

    Garlic – fresh garlic or the kind in the jar (that’s what I use almost all the time). 

    Three shells on a white plate, two of them are more visible than one.

    How to make this easy stuffed shells recipe

    1. Cook pasta in a large pot of water for 10 minutes, drain and rinse with cold water. 
    2. While the pasta cooks brown the beef over medium heat in a skillet, about 7-10 minutes. When the meat is almost finished add the garlic and cook a minute or two.  
    3. Preheat the oven to 375°. Spray a 9″ X 13″ casserole dish with cooking spray and put enough pasta sauce in the bottom of the baking dish so that it covers the surface.
    4. Combine the meat, egg, ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl. 
    5. Fill shells with cheese mixture and place them into the prepared baking dish in a single layer, spoon remaining sauce over shells.
    6. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 35-40 minutes, uncover and add remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese; cook until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Let stand about 5 minutes before serving. 
    A collage of 4 images showing the cheese mixture before and after mixing and the stuffed shells in a casserole dish without and with sauce on top.

    Tips

    • Spread cooked shell pasta out on a rimmed baking sheet so the shells don’t stick together. 
    • I use a table spoon to stuff the shells with the ricotta filling, not a measuring spoon, just a regular spoon. You can fill a piping bag and pipe it in if you have one. 
    • Serve with a side salad and garlic bread for a complete meal. 

    Storage & Reheating

    We store our leftovers in the same casserole dish that we bake it in. The one you see in the pictures in this post doesn’t have a lid so I cover it with plastic wrap and it is airtight. You can transfer your leftovers to a different airtight container or portion them out into individual servings. 

    I like to heat the leftovers up in the microwave. 

    There is a great article over at Southern Living that tells you how to freeze, defrost, and reheat a casserole, so check that out if you want to make this dish as part of your meal prep.  

    Part of the baking dish of ground beef stuffed shells is in the shot, the recipe title is at the top in text.

    More pasta recipes you will love

    Chicken Parmesan Casserole

    Mixed Up Lasagna

    Spinach Manicotti

    Skinny Baked Chicken Spaghetti

    Very close up view of three stuffed pasta shells on a white plate.

    Beef Stuffed Pasta Shells

    Mindy Boyd
    Ground Beef Stuffed Pasta Shells is a comfort food classic using three types of cheese and made super easy using jar sauce. Serve with a side salad and garlic bread for a complete meal the whole family will love. 
    5 from 5 votes
    Print – Email Required Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Resting Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Italian
    Servings 8 servings of 3 shells each

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound lean ground beef
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • 1 egg
    • 1 container ricotta cheese 15 ounces
    • 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
    • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
    • 24 jumbo pasta shells
    • 1 jar pasta sauce 24 ounces
    • Cooking spray
    • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    I earn a small commission from Instacart for qualifying purchases.

    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Bring water to a boil in a large pot, add pasta and cook 10 minutes, drain and rinse with cold water. 
      24 jumbo pasta shells
    • Meanwhile cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until brown, about 7- 10 minutes. When the meat is almost finished add the garlic.
      1 pound lean ground beef, 1 clove garlic
    • Preheat oven to 375°. Spray a 9" X 13" baking dish with cooking spray and put enough pasta sauce in the bottom of the dish so that it covers the surface, probably about a cup, depending on the size of your dish. 
      1 jar pasta sauce, Cooking spray
    • In a large bowl combine the meat, egg, ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. 
      1 egg, 1 container ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
    • Use a table spoon to fill the shells and place them into the prepared baking dish in a single layer, spoon remaining sauce over shells. Cover with foil.
      1 jar pasta sauce
    • Bake for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly, uncover and add remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese; cook until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.
      1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
    • Let stand about 5 minutes before serving. 

    Notes

    Nutritional information is approximate.  
    See tips, notes, and suggestions in the post above. 

    Bookmark this page to find it quickly when you are ready to make this recipe!

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 277kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 388mg | Potassium: 283mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 244IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 231mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was with a comment below.
    Share by text, email, or on social!
    597Pinterest126FacebookEmailRedditXSMSFlipboardBluesky
    723
    SHARES

    More Pasta

    • Side shot of one serving of Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Bake on a white plate with a salad in the background.
      Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Bake
    • Feature image of a bowl of Chicken Pastina Soup with a spoon next to it.
      Chicken Pastina Soup Recipe
    • Feature image of one serving of cream cheese spaghetti casserole on a white and black plate.
      Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole
    • The feature image of one serving of soup in a white bowl.
      Italian Tortellini Sausage Soup

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. J says

      December 05, 2024 at 7:27 pm

      Is ot me or is the recipe missing the part involving the beef. Do I add the cheese mixture to the beef then stuff or stuff both parts separately? I feel like it’s going right over my head here.

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        December 06, 2024 at 7:51 am

        It’s in step 4 – In a large bowl combine the meat, egg, ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Thanks, Mindy

        Reply
    2. Sue says

      August 06, 2019 at 11:05 am

      Can I freeze these? If so how? Thank you for your help

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        August 07, 2019 at 7:04 pm

        I have never done it but I bet you can! I think you would have to cook it covered longer. I would try to find some recipes that tell how long to cook a dish similar to this that is frozen.

        Reply
    3. lakefrontcloseout.com says

      February 27, 2018 at 8:30 pm

      And I agree, sometimes pasta is a little better the next day, all melded together ?

      Reply
    4. Sarah Hughes says

      October 18, 2016 at 10:54 pm

      This looks great! Can’t wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        October 18, 2016 at 11:09 pm

        Thank you!!

        Reply
    5. Man Fuel says

      June 02, 2016 at 12:59 am

      Thanks for stopping by my blog and sharing your thoughts! These stuffed shells look great and I’m loving the vibrant photos!

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        June 02, 2016 at 3:34 am

        Thanks! I am still learning my way around the camera.

        Reply
    6. Mindy Boyd says

      June 01, 2016 at 5:30 pm

      It is a wordpress theme. I got it when I set up my website.

      Reply
    7. Michelle Furr says

      May 24, 2016 at 2:32 am

      I am so making this!

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        May 24, 2016 at 2:50 am

        It was a hit with Kimberly and her boyfriend, Tyler, and Lee will eat anything. It is easy too.

        Reply
    5 from 5 votes (5 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    A picture of me sitting at my dining room table.
    Hi, I’m Mindy! Whether I’m cooking for friends and family or sharing recipes with you, I love feeding people. And it doesn’t have to be complicated! Here, you’ll find quick and easy recipes that don’t require a long list of ingredients or take too much time.

    More about me →


    Connect with us!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Reader Favorites

    • Homemade Tuna Helper Creamy Pasta
    • Several air fried biscuits in a cloth lined basket.
      Canned Pillsbury Grands Biscuits in Air Fryer
    • Overhead view of a plate of ribs.
      Air Fryer Country Style Ribs
    • Three potatoes on a sheet pan after they have been baked in the oven without foil.
      Baked Potato Without Foil
    • overhead view of white gravy on a biscuit on a white plate.
      Southern White Country Gravy
    • Four cooked cube steaks in the air fryer basket.
      Air Fryer Cube Steak

    Popular Pasta Dishes

    • Homemade Tuna Helper Creamy Pasta
    • Overhead close up shot of a bronze colored pot full of alfredo chicken broccoli pasta.
      Alfredo Chicken Pasta & Broccoli (with jar sauce)
    • Very close up view of three stuffed pasta shells on a white plate.
      Beef Stuffed Pasta Shells
    • close up view of one pot meaty marinara pasta on a white plate.
      One Pot Meaty Marinara Pasta
    • A white plate with one serving of hamburger helper on it.
      Hamburger Helper Italian Shells
    • One serving of Easy Old Fashioned Hamburger Casserole on a white plate.
      Old Fashioned Hamburger Casserole
    • Close up of one serving of lasagna on a white plate.
      Classico Lasagna (with jar sauce)
    • Overhead close up of one serving of lemon pasta with peas and ricotta on a white plate.
      Lemon Pasta with Peas & Ricotta
    • Overhead view of plate with one serving of homemade hamburger helper cheeseburger macaroni.
      Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni

    Recent Posts

    • Blended Baked Oats (no banana)
    • Baked Thin Chicken Breasts
    • Dunkin French Vanilla Swirl Iced Coffee
    • Blueberry Beet Smoothie
    • Easy Canned Corn Recipe
    • Air Fryer Sausage Patties

    Footer

    Featured on

    The websites I have been featured in, parade, purewow, msn, mashed and brit+co.

    ↑ back to top

    Newsletter

    SIGN UP TO RECEIVE EMAIL UPDATES

    CONNECT WITH US!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    FIND IT HERE

    Privacy Policy | Contact

    Copyright © 2025 Mindy's Cooking Obsession

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.