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Very close up view of three stuffed pasta shells on a white plate.
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5 from 5 votes

The Best Ground Beef Stuffed Pasta Shells

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. 
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Resting Time5 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: ground beef stuffed pasta shells
Servings: 8 servings of 3 shells each
Calories: 277kcal
Author: Mindy Boyd

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

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. 

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Nutrition

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