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    Home » Recipes » Pasta » Cheesy Italian Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef Filling

    Cheesy Italian Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef Filling

    Published: Aug 24, 2021 · Modified: Jun 19, 2022 by Jenna Passaro · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Make Cheesy Italian stuffed shells with ground beef filling. It’s an easy family style meal or holiday pasta dish. See how to make the best, super easy ground beef stuffed shells with this recipe guide.

    Grab your jumbo pasta shells and meet me in the kitchen to whip up this dish.

    Table of Contents

    • Why this stuffed shells recipe is great…
    • Ingredients
    • Steps to make Italian stuffed shells with meat
    • More tasty filling ideas for stuffed shells
    • What to do with leftover meat sauce
    • Tips for meal prepping baked shells
    • Helpful things to have on hand to make baked pasta
    • Final tips
    • What side dishes go with stuffed shells?
    • Are you a foodie, too?
    • Cheesy Italian Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef Filling [Sip Bite Go]

    Why this stuffed shells recipe is great…

    • Very easy to make ahead.
    • TASTY!! Flavor wise, it hits all the notes. The ground beef filling has tasty Italian seasonings. And it’s so creamy from the Parmesan and ricotta filling
    • Great for any occasion – make it for casual family dinner and entertaining guests on a holiday menu.
    • My helpful video tutorial (at the bottom of this post) will walk you through my simple way to make classic Italian stuffed shells with ground beef.

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you need to make cheesy Italian stuffed shells with ground beef.

    Jumbo pasta shells

    • Jumbo pasta shells (the really large ones)
    • Olive oil

    Italian seasoned ground beef filling

    • Olive oil
    • Ground beef (or substitute ground turkey, ground pork, or even a mixture of meat and spinach)
    • Vegetables: onion, red pepper, garlic 
    • Seasonings: salt, pepper, dried parsley, dried oregano

    Cheese filling and topping

    • Ricotta cheese
    • Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
    • Pasta sauce
    • Mozzarella cheese
    • Basil to top, if desired

    Love comfort foods? Check out these air fryer mac and cheese balls.

    Steps to make Italian stuffed shells with meat

    Quick look: basic recipe steps

    1. Boil the large pasta shells.
    2. Brown the Italian seasoned ground beef and mix together the stuffed pasta filling.
    3. Assemble and bake stuffed shells with meat and ricotta for less than 30 minutes.

    Detailed instructions

    Step 1. First, heat a large pot of water on the stove to medium-high and boil water with large pasta shells as directed until cooked al dente. Right now is a good time to start cooking the ground beef filling.

    Tip: Do not overcook the pasta, though, since the stuffed pasta will finish cooking in the oven.

    So once the pasta is cooked to al dente, drain it, then toss shells in olive oil to prevent pasta from sticking while finishing the stuffing.

    Browning the beef filling

    Step 2. Next, heat a large skillet on the stove to medium-high. After that, add olive oil and let it heat until the oil is hot and shiny.

    cooking the stuffed shells filling with ground beef
    A note on the vegetables used in this stuffed pasta shells dish – I love using onions and red peppers in recipes. They’re in so many of my dishes, especially Italian dishes. You can substitute other vegetables.

    Next, add the ground beef, onion, red pepper, garlic, salt, pepper, parsley, and oregano.

    Italian ground beef filling for shells

    Then, cook beef and vegetable mixture for about 10 minutes, breaking down beef as it cooks and stirring regularly until beef is thoroughly cooked and onions are translucent.

    ground beef on paper towel

    Once it’s done, remove from heat and strain on a plate lined with a paper towel to remove excess grease.

    Step 3. Now it’s time to set out a medium-sized baking dish and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Then cover the bottom of the dish with 1 cup of pasta sauce.

    ground beef with ricotta and sauce

    Step 4. Mix together the cheese filling for the stuffing.

    In a large bowl, gently combine the cooked beef mixture, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, and 1 cup of pasta sauce.

    By now, the ground beef and cheese mixture will be smelling delicious…

    ricotta and ground beef filling for stuffed shells
    Doesn’t that look beautiful? I love how it all comes together. The stuffed meat filling kind of looks more like a vodka sauce because it has that creaminess in it.

    Add a little extra salt and pepper to the filling mixture if desired.

    stuffed shells with ground beef and ricotta

    Stuff every cooked shell with filling mixture and add them to a medium-sized baking dish.

    stuffed shells with pasta sauce

    Top with remaining sauce.

    Italian stuffed shells with mozzarella cheese

    And finish with a layer of mozzarella cheese.

    baked stuffed shells in a casserole dish

    Step 5. Bake stuffed shells with meat and cheese mixture for about 20 minutes until cheese is melted. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Cover with tin foil if waiting to serve longer to keep it warm.

    More tasty filling ideas for stuffed shells

    Jumbo pasta shells are one of my favorite Italian stuffed pasta types because they are big and strong enough to hold some tasty fillings. And since variations of recipes are so fun to experiment with, I wanted to share with you a few more ideas so you can modify this stuffed shell recipe with whatever is in your fridge.

    More stuffed shells recipe ideas:

    • Turkey sausage, pork sausage, or sous vide sausage
    • Meat and spinach
    • Don’t have ricotta? Substitue cottage cheese.
    • Stuffing shells with ground chicken instead of ground beef
    • Going vegetarian by stuffing shells with chopped spinach, roasted cherry tomatoes, or sauteed mushrooms
    • Using up leftovers like meatballs, diced sous vide chicken, smoked meatloaf, or sous vide shrimp
    • Leave out the beef and use it as a side for sous vide filet mignon or sous vide ribeye steak. 

    What to do with leftover meat sauce

    Because the size of the shells and the ratio of filling can vary, you may end up with extra. It’s definitely a gift when you have leftover meat sauce!

    The ratio of pasta shells to meat sauce will sometimes leave you with leftovers. It depends on the size of your baking dish and how many ingredient substitutions you make.

    There are plenty of ways to use leftover meat sauce from baked pasta.

    If you’re all pasta’d out for the week, you can freeze leftover meat sauce to thaw and use in pasta sauces or in dishes like this baked rigatoni with ground beef. The fillings are quite similar.

    Want more pasta recipes? Check out these pasta side dishes that are sure to please a crowd! And see these tips on how to cook refrigerated tortellini

    Italian Stuffed Shells Dish

    Tips for meal prepping baked shells

    This baked pasta dish ranks high up there on the “easy to meal prep pasta dishes” list with mac and cheese, lasagna, and baked chicken Parmesan with vodka sauce.

    So you want to make stuffed shells ahead? Great idea… To meal prep baked shells, assemble the ingredients in a freezer and oven safe baking dish.

    Wrap the dish once with foil and then wrap 2-3 times with plastic wrap, or just vacuum seal it. See my Foodsaver 4400 review video to get a look at how a vacuum sealer works. I vacuum seal all the time for my sous vide recipes.

    Want to get more into sous vide steaks? Check out this sous vide steak seasoning or flank steak marinade to get some new flavor ideas!

    baked pasta shells with tomato sauce

    Helpful things to have on hand to make baked pasta

    Here are some kitchen tools I can’t live without, particularly equipment used for making baked pasta dishes.

    • To chop veggies for baked pasta dishes, I save time by using a mandoline or food processor.
    • You’ll often see me use 8″ Shun chef’s knife and one of these bamboo cutting boards or my beautiful Acadia wood cutting board.
    • Pyrex glass mixing bowls with lids are great for mixing ingredients and easily storing them in the fridge.
    • For meal prep, I’ll use two oval-shaped 9” cast iron dishes or a 9″ glass dish to split the recipe in half.

    Final tips

    • Cook jumbo shells to al dente for baked pasta dishes like this one. The pasta will continue to cook in the oven.
    • Don’t forget to line the bottom of the baking dish with tomato sauce before adding the shells. This helps keep the shells from burning and sticking to the baking dish.
    • This recipe is a blank canvas – if you don’t like one of the filling ingredients or just want to change it up, you can try using different meats (ground chicken, sausage), making it half ground beef and half shrimp, or making it vegetarian (mushrooms, chopped spinach).
    • If you have remaining sauce, use it in something creative or freeze it for later.

    What side dishes go with stuffed shells?

    • Sous Vide Fingerling Potatoes
    • Sous Vide Asparagus
    • Garlic Dill Carrots
    • Sauteed Mushrooms with Thyme and Red Wine
    • Arugula Salad with Sous Vide Beets and Goat Cheese
    • Zucchini Soup
    • Baked chicken wings or smoked chicken wings
    • Air fryer filet mignon

    Are you a foodie, too?

    Before you go, connect with me on Instagram @sipbitego to see my new tasty recipes – I always share previews before the recipes go live on the site. For more deliciousness, subscribe to the Sip Bite Go channel on YouTube. 

    To find more delicious recipes to try on your culinary journey, scroll through the Sip Bite Go recipe collection.

    Cheesy Italian Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef Filling [Sip Bite Go]

    Make Cheesy Italian stuffed shells with ground beef filling. It's an easy family style meal or holiday pasta dish. See how to make the best, super easy ground beef stuffed shells with this recipe guide.
    5 from 14 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner, Main Dish
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 40 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Finish Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 856kcal
    Author: Jenna Passaro

    Ingredients

    Large pasta shells

    • 10 oz pasta shells, large
    • ½ tsp olive oil

    Italian seasoned ground beef

    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • 1 lbs ground beef
    • ½ onion diced
    • ½ red pepper diced
    • 2 tsp garlic minced
    • ¼ tsp salt
    • ¼ tsp pepper
    • ¼ tsp parsley dried
    • ¼ tsp oregano dried

    Stuffed pasta filling

    • 1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
    • 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese grated
    • 3 cups pasta sauce divided
    • ½ cup mozzarella cheese
    • 1 tbsp basil fresh leaves

    Instructions

    • Boil the large pasta shells. Heat a large pot of water on the stove to medium high and boil water with large pasta shells as directed until cooked al dente. This is a good time to start cooking the ground beef filling. Do not overcook the pasta, though, since the stuffed pasta will finish cooking in the oven. Once finished, drain pasta, then toss it in olive oil to prevent pasta from sticking while finishing the stuffing for the shells.
    • Brown the Italian seasoned ground beef. Heat a large skillet on the stove to medium-high. Add olive oil and let it heat until the oil is hot and shiny. Add the ground beef, onion, red pepper, garlic, salt, pepper, parsley, and oregano. Brown beef and vegetable mixture for about 10 minutes, breaking down beef as it cooks and stirring regularly until beef is thoroughly cooked and onions are translucent. Once done, remove from heat and strain on a plate lined with paper towel to remove excess grease.
    • Set out a medium sized baking dish and set the oven to 350 degrees F. Cover the bottom of the dish with 1 cup pasta sauce.
    • Mix together the stuffed pasta filling. In a large bowl, gently combine the cooked beef mixture, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, and 1 cup of pasta sauce. Add a little extra salt and pepper to the cheese mixture if desired. Stuff every cooked shell with filling mixture and add them to a medium sized baking dish. Top with remaining pasta sauce and mozzarella cheese.
    • Bake stuffed shells with ground beef filling for about 20 minutes until the cheese is melted. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Cover with tin foil if waiting to serve longer to keep it warm.

    Video

    Notes

    • Cook jumbo shells to al dente for baked pasta dishes like this one. The pasta will continue to cook in the oven.
    • Don’t forget to line the bottom of the baking dish with tomato sauce before adding the shells. This helps keep the shells from burning and sticking to the baking dish.
    • This recipe is a blank canvas – if you don’t like one of the filling ingredients or just want to change it up, you can try using different meats (ground chicken, sausage), making it half ground beef and half shrimp, or making it vegetarian (mushrooms, spinach).
    • If you have leftover meat sauce, use it in something creative or freeze it for later.
     
    See the recipe: https://sipbitego.com/stuffed-shells-with-ground-beef
    See the recipe video for Italian stuffed shells on Sip Bite Go’s YouTube.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 856kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 140mg | Sodium: 1395mg | Potassium: 1245mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1816IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 361mg | Iron: 6mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @SipBiteGo or tag #sipbitego!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kelsey says

      April 22, 2021 at 9:58 am

      This is an easy recipe to follow. My family loves it. This last time I make it with ground chicken.5 stars

      Reply
    2. Lilly says

      June 22, 2020 at 11:01 am

      This recipe came together so perfectly! My husband loved it! Thank you!

      Reply
    3. Marlynn says

      June 21, 2020 at 12:48 pm

      This is such a satisfying, comforting pasta dish and I love how versatile it is!5 stars

      Reply
    4. Laura says

      June 21, 2020 at 12:08 pm

      Great recipe, I always love a good pasta recipe5 stars

      Reply
    5. Andrea Metlika says

      June 21, 2020 at 11:52 am

      This is a perfect Italian meal that my entire family will love.5 stars

      Reply
    6. Colleen says

      June 21, 2020 at 11:33 am

      Shells are such a fun pasta shape, and this is a delicious weeknight meal. I love how cheesy they are!5 stars

      Reply

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    jenna passaro food blogger from Portland Oregon

    Hey, I’m Jenna Passaro.

    I develop easy recipes that can transform your kitchen into a restaurant – and you into a true home chef.

      

    Where to start?

    Learn the secrets to smoking tasty Traeger recipes and making pizza at home. And cook amazing tri tip steak dinners.

    Or, fall in love with something new to cook with your air fryer, pellet smoker, BBQ grill, sous vide cooker, and more…

    You’ll notice, I kind of geek out over new cooking trends and tools!

    Instagram me @sipbitego & chef hubs @handmodelpatrick

    My story. Growing up, I didn’t learn to cook.

    (I was actually banned from cooking for years)

    And then in my 20’s I didn’t have to cook because my job as an event planner involved a lot of travel and it was easier to eat out. At the time, I was 100% positive that restaurant food would always taste better than cooking at home, and there was nothing I could do about it.

    Until I fell in love with a chef. He would come over and cook me delicious meals right in my own kitchen. My mind was blown.

    Since then, I’ve been on a mission to figure out easy ways to make restaurant style food at home and share it here on Sip Bite Go.

    Love to eat out and travel? I can totally relate. See my guide on where to eat in Portland, OR.

    jenna passaro the home chef's sous vide cookbook

    Never in a million years did I imagine I’d ditch the 9-5 lifestyle in my late 20’s, move across the country on a whim, start a new life, start a food blog, and write a book.

    But here I am!

    See my book on Amazon: The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook.

     

       

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