My Recipe for Stuffed Pasta Shells

I make this a couple of different ways.  Sometimes I make stuffed spinach pasta shells, sometimes just stuffed cheese pasta shells, but most of the time I make my fiance’s favorite… stuffed meat & cheese pasta shells.

This is another recipe that my family and friends have been asking for, so here it is:

Stuffed Pasta Shells (Meat)

1 box large pasta shells
1 pound ground beef
1 jar spaghetti sauce (Ragu Parmesan Romano)

Cheese Filling:
1 package ricotta cheese (12 oz)
1 egg
3 cups mozarella cheese (separated – I like the Italian blends that have parmesan or asiago cheese in them also)
1 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Cook pasta shells as directed on box.

Brown the ground beef, season with salt and pepper while browning.  Drain and let cool (enough so that cheese won’t melt when combined with cheese filling).

Combine all of the ‘cheese filling’ ingredients except for 1 cup of the mozarella cheese.  When cooked ground beef has cooled, combine with the cheese mixture (I usually fill a few shells with the cheese mixture before adding the beef for those who like all cheese shells).

Stuff the pasta shells with approximately 1 tablespoon each of the cheese/beef mixture.

Pour half of the spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a glass baking dish.  Arrange the stuffed pasta shells in the dish (single layer).  Pour remaining sauce over shells.  Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese over the shells.

Cover dish with foil.  Bake at 350 degree for 30 minutes.