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–+ servings
stuffed shells with spinach and bacon in a white dish.
5 from 2 votes

Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce

These stuffed shells with meat sauce are stuffed with spinach and a cheesy filling and then baked in a hearty meat sauce. Enjoy!
Prep 20 minutes
Cook 45 minutes
Total 1 hour 5 minutes
Fat 28
Carbs 31
Protein 31
Yield 8

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. jumbo shells
  • 16 oz. whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1 oz. grated parmesan cheese ~½ cup
  • 8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese divided (~2 cups)
  • 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 5 oz. fresh spinach finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ medium yellow onion diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 1 lb. 85/15 ground beef
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 24 oz. marinara sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350℉ and spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside -- about 10 minutes.
  • Add the ricotta, parmesan, ½ cup mozzarella, Italian seasoning, salt, egg, and spinach to a large bowl. Mix until well combined. Transfer the mixture to a gallon-size storage bag and set aside.
    a white bowl filled with eggs, cheese, parmesan, and parsley.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium/high heat. Add the onions and peppers and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add the ground beef and garlic and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the marinara sauce and cook for 2-3 minutes. Set aside.
    a skillet filled with meat and tomato sauce.
  • To assemble, pour 1 cup of the beef marinara into the bottom of the baking dish. Spread to cover the bottom. Pipe about 1-2 tablespoons of the ricotta mixture into each shell. Line up the shells in the baking dish until all the noodles and ricotta mixture have been used. Top with the remaining marinara sauce. Then top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
    stuffed shells in a white baking dish.
  • Bake for 30 minutes uncovered. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
    cheesy stuffed shells in a white baking dish.

Tips & Notes

  • Don’t skip chopping the spinach ahead of time. It is hard to pipe the ricotta mixture with whole spinach leaves coming out.
  • Italian sausage would be an excellent substitute for ground beef.
  • To make ahead of time, assemble and refrigerate. Bake for 30 minutes covered and then an additional 30 uncovered.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 498kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 28g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g