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    Home » What We're Eating » The Best Stuffed Pasta Shells

    The Best Stuffed Pasta Shells

    Published: Nov 17, 2021 by Blair Lonergan

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    Overhead shot of a pan of ricotta stuffed shells with meat and text title overlay
    Serving spoon in a pan of easy stuffed pasta shells with text title overlay
    Side shot of stuffed shells with meat sauce in a pan with text title box at top
    Overhead shot of beef stuffed shells with text title box at top
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    The best stuffed pasta shells are full of ground beef, three different types of cheese, and a secret ingredient that adds tons of flavor. Serve the easy stuffed shells recipe with a side salad and garlic bread for a delicious, make-ahead dinner. The 5-star recipe has been featured in Taste of Home magazine, and you're about to see why!

    Overhead shot of a pan of the best stuffed pasta shells recipe on a wooden table

    How to Make Stuffed Shells | 1-Minute Video

    Stuffed Shells with Meat

    Does it get any cozier than a pan of stuffed pasta shells full of ricotta and ground beef, smothered in meat sauce, and finished with extra cheese? Similar to a classic lasagna recipe, these Italian stuffed shells have been loved in American homes for decades! From kids to grandparents, here's why everyone loves this recipe:

    • The ricotta stuffed shells can be assembled in advance and frozen or refrigerated until you're ready to bake them. Talk about convenient!
    • This recipe yields a large batch to serve 8, so it's perfect for entertaining. If you're feeding a smaller family, you can divide the stuffed shells between two smaller 8-inch baking dishes and freeze one for later. You get two meals with one effort. Love that!
    • The secret ingredient -- pesto -- adds tons of flavor to the ricotta and ground beef filling. No boring stuffed shells here!

    Are you convinced? First, let's address a few common questions before we get to the recipe.

    Stirring ground beef in a cast iron skillet

    What are Stuffed Shells?

    This Italian-inspired dish includes Jumbo Shells pasta, which are stuffed with a variety of ingredients and baked with sauce and cheese in a casserole dish. Beef and ricotta is a classic stuffed shells filling, but you might also find spinach and cheese stuffed shells, chicken stuffed shells with spinach and Alfredo, or sausage and cheese stuffed shells.

    Stirring a ricotta cheese mixture in a white bowl

    What's the difference between Stuffed Shells and Manicotti?

    While these two Italian stuffed pasta dishes are quite similar, there are a few specific differences. Manicotti, which literally translates to "little muffs," are large tubes of pasta designed for stuffing.

    By contrast, stuffed shells are made with conchiglioni pasta, the larger version of conchiglie, which means “conch shells.” The jumbo shells have thin ridges set close together, and typically stuffed with a combination of meat, cheeses, and vegetables. Unlike the tubes of manicotti, jumbo pasta shells can hold an amount of stuffing equal to the size and shape of an egg.

    Process shot showing the best way to stuff shells

    Ingredients

    This is a quick overview of the ingredients that you'll need for the best stuffed pasta shells recipe. As always, specific measurements and complete cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.

    • Jumbo pasta shells: I always cook the entire 12-ounce box, but you likely won't need all of them. It just depends on how full you stuff each shell, and how tightly you pack them in the dish. Some shells tend to break or rip in the cooking process, so it's nice to have extras.
    • Ground beef: adds hearty texture and great flavor to both the ricotta filling and the sauce. You can substitute with Italian sausage or ground turkey, too.
    • Onion: for extra savory flavor.
    • Shredded Italian cheese blend: goes into the filling and on top of the casserole.
    • Ricotta cheese: gives the filling that rich, creamy texture. If you prefer, you can substitute with cottage cheese, but see my notes below for more details on that change.
    • Grated Parmesan cheese: freshly-grated is always my preference, but pre-grated cheese straight from the can is perfectly fine here as well!
    • Egg: gives the filling structure so that it doesn't ooze out of the shells.
    • Pesto: the "secret" ingredient that adds great garlic and basil flavor to the filling. You can make your own pesto or find a jar of prepared pesto at the grocery store on the aisle with the other jars of pasta sauces.
    • Marinara sauce: use a homemade marinara sauce or purchase a jar of store-bought sauce for a nice shortcut.

    Marinara meat sauce in a white bowl

    How to Make Ricotta Stuffed Shells with Meat

    While these stuffed pasta shells require a few steps for assembly, I can assure you that they are well worth the few extra minutes in the kitchen. Plus, they're very easy -- if you can brown ground beef and cook some pasta, you can prepare this dish!

    1. Cook pasta shells in salted boiling water. Drain and rinse under cold water.
    2. Brown the ground beef and onion in a skillet; drain off the fat.
    3. Stir together the ricotta filling.
    4. Mix together the meat sauce.
    5. Stuff shells with ricotta filling.
    6. Arrange the stuffed shells in a 13 x 9-inch dish.
    7. Spread meat sauce over top.
    8. Sprinkle with cheese.
    9. Cover the dish with foil and bake in a 350°F oven for 30 minutes.
    10. Remove the cover and bake for 10 more minutes, until the cheese is melted the filling is hot.

    Spreading tomato meat sauce on top of a baking dish

    Sprinkling cheese on top of a casserole

    What to Serve with Stuffed Pasta Shells

    If you're wondering what goes with stuffed shells for dinner, here are a few easy ideas to get you started:

    • Garlic breadsticks, garlic bread, homemade focaccia, or a crusty loaf of no-knead Dutch oven bread
    • Green salad with red wine vinaigrette or Caesar salad
    • Roasted broccoli or asparagus
    • Sauteed asparagus
    • 2-ingredient Italian sugar snap peas
    • Sauteed spinach with garlic
    • Sauteed zucchini
    • Parmesan roasted cauliflower

    Side shot of stuffed shells ricotta in a pan on a dinner table

    How many Stuffed Pasta Shells Per Person?

    I generally assume about 2-3 shells per person. Larger appetites might like 4, while smaller eaters may prefer 2. This recipe yields about 20-22 stuffed shells with a hearty meat sauce, and it typically feeds about 6-8 people.

    Storage

    Leftover baked stuffed pasta shells will last in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

    How to Reheat Stuffed Shells

    Let the dish sit on the counter and come to room temperature for about 1 hour before reheating. Cover the dish with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven just until warmed through (about 20-30 minutes). You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave for about 1 minute.

    How to Freeze Stuffed Shells

    Stuffed shells with ground beef is the ultimate prep-ahead freezer meal! If you would like to make the casserole in advance, simply assemble the dish (but do not bake). Cover the dish with foil and either refrigerate for up to 24 hours; or, if freezing, cover tightly with plastic wrap, then foil. Keep in freezer for up to 3 months.

    How to Cook Frozen Stuffed Shells

    When ready to bake, you can either thaw the stuffed shells in the refrigerator overnight (and bake according to the recipe instructions); or you can bake the stuffed shells directly from the freezer at 350°F for about 60-70 minutes (or until heated through). Don't forget to remove the foil during the final 10 minutes of baking to allow the cheese to brown on top!

    Close overhead shot of a spoon with beef stuffed shells

    Recipe Variations

    • This recipe yields a large batch to serve 8, so it's perfect for entertaining. If you're feeding a smaller family, you can divide the stuffed shells between two smaller 8-inch baking dishes and freeze one for later.
    • Use about 1 lb. of ground Italian sausage, ground turkey, or ground chicken instead of the ground beef.
    • To make these amazing stuffed shells without ricotta, you can substitute with cottage cheese instead. If using cottage cheese, I recommend straining off some of the liquid first or using a whipped cottage cheese so that you don't end up with a watery filling.
    • Add cooked spinach to the filling. Just make sure that you squeeze the spinach very dry before stirring it into the ricotta mixture -- otherwise it will water-down the dish.

    Overhead image of ricotta stuffed shells with ground beef and a parsley garnish

    Tips for the Best Stuffed Shells Recipe

    • Boil the pasta in well-salted water. This is your only opportunity to season the pasta itself, so don't be shy with the salt!
    • Cook the pasta shells just until barely al dente, since they will continue to cook in the oven. You don't want to end up with overdone, mushy pasta!
    • Garnish the shells with fresh herbs like parsley or basil for a bright finishing touch.

    Overhead shot of easy stuffed pasta shells on a wooden dinner table with a salad on the side

    More Italian-Inspired Dinner Recipes to Try

    • Ravioli Lasagna
    • Dump-and-Bake Meatball Casserole
    • Homemade Meatballs
    • Easy Spaghetti Carbonara
    • Vegetable Lasagna
    • Baked Meatballs
    • Homemade Lasagna
    • Baked Rigatoni
    Overhead shot of a pan of the best stuffed pasta shells recipe on a wooden table
    Print Pin
    5 from 23 votes

    The Best Stuffed Pasta Shells Recipe

    The best stuffed pasta shells are full of ground beef, three different types of cheese, and a secret ingredient that adds tons of flavor!
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Italian
    Keyword Ground Beef Recipes, stuffed pasta shells, Stuffed Shells Recipe, stuffed shells with meat, Stuffed Shells with Ricotta
    Prep Time 30 minutes
    Cook Time 40 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings 8 people
    Calories 446kcal
    Author Blair Lonergan

    Ingredients

    • 1 (12 ounce) box Jumbo pasta shells
    • 1 lb. ground beef (you can substitute with ground turkey, ground Italian sausage, or ground chicken)
    • 1 cup chopped onion
    • 2 cups shredded Italian blend cheese, divided (you can substitute with shredded mozzarella cheese)
    • 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
    • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
    • 1 egg
    • ¼ cup pesto
    • 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
    • Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley or basil

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°F.
    • Cook pasta shells in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions. Drain; rinse under cold water.
    • Meanwhile, brown ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain off fat; let cool slightly before adding to the filling.
    • Combine 1 ½ cups of the shredded Italian blend cheese, all of the ricotta cheese, all of the Parmesan cheese, the egg, the pesto, and half of the beef and onion mixture in a large bowl. Set aside.
    • Spread ¾ cup of the marinara sauce in the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish. In a bowl, stir together the remaining marinara sauce and the remaining half of the beef and onion mixture. Set aside.
    • Fill the cooked, cooled pasta shells with the ricotta mixture. Arrange the shells in the baking dish.
    • Top the shells with the marinara sauce mixture. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of Italian cheese blend over top.
    • Cover the dish with foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the cover and bake for 10 more minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil, if desired. Serve!

    Video

    Notes

    • Boil the pasta in well-salted water. This is your only opportunity to season the pasta itself, so don't be shy with the salt!
    • Cook the pasta shells just until barely al dente, since they will continue to cook in the oven. You don't want to end up with overdone, mushy pasta!
    • Garnish the shells with fresh herbs like parsley or basil for a bright finishing touch.
    • This recipe yields a large batch to serve 8, so it's perfect for entertaining. If you're feeding a smaller family, you can divide the stuffed shells between two smaller 8-inch baking dishes and freeze one for later.
    • Use about 1 lb. of ground Italian sausage, ground turkey, or ground chicken instead of the ground beef.
    • To make these amazing stuffed shells without ricotta, you can substitute with cottage cheese instead. If using cottage cheese, I recommend straining off some of the liquid first or using a whipped cottage cheese so that you don't end up with a watery filling.
    • Add cooked spinach to the filling. Just make sure that you squeeze the spinach very dry before stirring it into the ricotta mixture -- otherwise it will water-down the dish.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/8 of the casserole | Calories: 446kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 714mg | Potassium: 357mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 705IU | Vitamin C: 2.2mg | Calcium: 494mg | Iron: 2.2mg

    This recipe was originally published in December, 2013. It was updated in November, 2021.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Patti Goodwin

      October 17, 2020 at 2:24 pm

      Your recipes are amazing! I have tried many, and never disappointed. I do have a quick question for this recipe. I'm are not a fan of ricotta, so I usually do 1/2 ricotta and 1/2 cottage cheese. Can this be frozen? I will be doing the full recipe and freezing half. If not, I can make it as written(hubby LOVES any kind of chees!)

      Reply
      • Blair

        October 17, 2020 at 2:34 pm

        Hi, Patti! So glad that you enjoy the recipes! 🙂

        Yes, I think it should work perfectly fine to sub with 1/2 cottage cheese and freeze half of the recipe. Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Carol

      November 04, 2020 at 6:01 pm

      Curious if I could substitute cream cheese for Ricotta? Hubby will NOT EAT anything made with Ricotta - there is no way to 'disguise it' to satisfy him. I've tried subbing cottage cheese (after pureeing it) and he wouldn't eat that either.
      Pain to me, cause I LOVE things like the shells and lasagna and others!

      Reply
      • Blair

        November 04, 2020 at 7:48 pm

        Hi, Carol! I think the cream cheese would probably work -- just make sure that it's softened to room temperature. Other options (besides cottage cheese) that might work as an alternative include a thick sour cream or mascarpone cheese. Hope your husband approves! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Kimberly

      December 28, 2020 at 12:03 am

      What do you recommend to serve with stuffed shells to make a
      Complete meal?

      Reply
      • Blair

        December 28, 2020 at 5:15 am

        Hi, Kimberly! I typically serve them with salad and bread. Garlic bread is great, or you could do a baguette, dinner rolls, whatever you like. Enjoy!

        Reply
    4. Sizzlin Sisters

      January 04, 2021 at 12:48 am

      5 stars
      Not a crumb left on our plates!

      XO from TO

      Reply
      • Blair

        January 04, 2021 at 4:58 am

        Yay! So glad to hear that you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    5. Teri

      January 21, 2021 at 6:13 pm

      Do you think spinach would work with the pesto in this recipe?

      Reply
      • Blair

        January 21, 2021 at 6:15 pm

        Hi, Teri! Yes, I do! Here's my spinach stuffed shells recipe if you'd like to see more specific details: https://www.theseasonedmom.com/spinach-stuffed-shells/

        Reply
    6. ERey

      March 19, 2021 at 11:06 am

      Hello, I'd like to add a little seasoning to the beef. What would you recommend and how much? I also like using a ground beef/pork mix. Would you recommend this? If so, again, what seasoning and how much?

      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Blair

        March 19, 2021 at 1:39 pm

        Sure, a mix of ground beef and pork would be great! You can season the meat with any herbs/spices that you like. I would go with garlic powder, basil, oregano or an Italian seasoning blend. For spice, you can also use some crushed red pepper flakes. Hope that helps, and enjoy!

        Reply
        • Jade-Ann Peters

          May 24, 2021 at 9:17 pm

          5 stars
          My absolute favorite the basil pesto is a knock out combo. Thank you for sharing ❤️ I add the red pepper flakes to the marinara and I combined white rice with the beef and ricotta (must add from my mom’s recipe) absolutely delicious.

          Reply
          • Blair

            May 25, 2021 at 5:12 am

            Thank you, Jade-Ann! I'm so glad that you enjoyed the meal. Thanks for your note!

            Reply
    7. Lori

      November 07, 2021 at 7:47 pm

      5 stars
      This was really good! My store was out of shells, so I used manicotti. I also did half beef and half sweet Italian sausage. All was delicious.

      Reply
      • Blair Lonergan

        November 08, 2021 at 4:45 am

        YUM! Italian sausage is always a great addition! Thanks, Lori! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Sylvia Johnson

      January 02, 2022 at 3:01 pm

      Can I make this ahead of time, refrigerate it then bake it the next day?

      Reply
      • Blair Lonergan

        January 02, 2022 at 4:40 pm

        Yes, ma'am! Just let it come to room temperature on the counter for at least 30-60 minutes before baking. This will help it reheat evenly. You don't want to put a cold dish in the hot oven if you don't have to. 🙂 Enjoy!

        Reply
    9. Lynda

      March 06, 2022 at 3:04 pm

      Do you have to use pesto

      Reply
      • Blair Lonergan

        March 06, 2022 at 6:00 pm

        Hi, Lynda! No, you don't. If you don't have pesto, you can use chopped fresh basil or even dried basil as a flavorful substitute.

        Reply
    10. Tim

      May 22, 2022 at 5:10 pm

      5 stars
      In the oven now! Yes, it's hot out this weekend (even up here in RI) but that's ok. I started with your spinach stuffed shells recipe from this morning's blog but ended up here since I had some Italian sausage in the freezer. Love your weekly e-newsletter and all the pics. You live in a beautiful area of the country and you make the most of it!

      Reply
      • Blair Lonergan

        May 22, 2022 at 6:54 pm

        Thank you, Tim. I really appreciate that! I hope that you enjoy the meal!

        Reply
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