Creamy Ricotta Beef Stuffed Shells Pasta
🛒 What You’ll Need:
- The Pasta: 1 box Jumbo pasta shells (cooked al dente). 🐚
- The Beef Filling: * 1 lb Lean ground beef. 🥩
- 1/2 Onion (finely diced). 🧅
- 2 cloves Garlic (minced). 🧄
- The Creamy Center:
- 15 oz Ricotta cheese. 🥛
- 1 Egg (to bind). 🥚
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (grated). 🧀
- The Sauce & Topping:
- 24 oz Marinara or pasta sauce. 🍅
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese (shredded). 🧀
- Fresh parsley (chopped for garnish). 🌿
👨🍳 Step-by-Step Preparation:
- Prep the Shells: Boil your jumbo shells in salted water until they are just shy of tender. Drain and set aside to cool. 🐚💧
- Brown the Meat: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef with onions and garlic until browned. Drain any excess grease. 🥩🔥
- Mix the Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the cooked beef, ricotta cheese, parmesan, egg, and a pinch of Italian seasoning. Stir until perfectly creamy. 🥣✨
- Layer the Sauce: Spread about 1 cup of pasta sauce across the bottom of a large baking dish. 🍅🥘
- Stuff & Align: Generously fill each shell with the beef and ricotta mixture. Arrange them in the dish in neat, tight rows. 🐚🥄
- Top it Off: Pour the remaining sauce over the shells and sprinkle a massive layer of mozzarella cheese on top. 🧀🔥
- Bake to Bubbly: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25–30 minutes until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbly. ⏳🔥🎉
- Garnish & Serve: Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve warm for that perfect cheese pull! 🍽️😋
✨ Why You’ll Love This:
This dish is a spectacular example of how simple ingredients can create a truly indulgent meal! 🤩 The ridges of the pasta shells hold onto the sauce beautifully, ensuring every bite is packed with creamy, cheesy goodness. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! 🌟🙌
