Ricotta Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Boil pasta shells until al dente, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
2. In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, mozzarella, Parmesan, a little parsley, and Italian seasoning. Mix well and set aside.
3. Prepare the meat sauce: sauté onion, red and green bell peppers, and garlic until slightly softened.
4. Add ground beef and Italian sausage to the pan. Cook until meat is thoroughly cooked and veggies are translucent.
5. Stir in the pasta sauce and heat through.
6. In a baking dish, spread a layer of meat sauce on the bottom.
7. Stuff the pasta shells with the ricotta mixture and place them on top of the meat sauce layer. Drizzle additional sauce over each stuffed shell.
8. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella on top. Cover the dish lightly with foil.
9. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil for the last 10 minutes and broil for 2 minutes until the cheese is slightly browned.
10. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot.

Recipe Details

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 40–45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6–8
Difficulty: Medium

Variations & Substitutions

• Substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
• Use spinach or kale in the ricotta mixture for added greens.
• Swap Italian sausages for chorizo or spicy sausage for extra flavor.
• Try marinara, tomato basil, or arrabbiata sauce for different sauce profiles.

Serving Suggestions