Jumbo pasta shells are stuffed with a lasagna-inspired blend of ricotta, mozzarella, spinach, and ground beef in this family-friendly recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons chopped onion
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 (14 ounce) cans tomato sauce, divided
- 18 jumbo pasta shells
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 (16 ounce) container whole-milk ricotta cheese
- 1 (16 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 (8 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
- ¼ cup fresh basil
- 1 medium lemon, zested and juiced
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Step 1
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; add 1/2 of the ground beef with a big pinch of salt and pepper and cook until the beef is seared and crumbly, about 5 minutes. Remove beef from the pan and cook the remainder. Set all meat aside.
Step 2
Lower the heat to medium-low and add 1 tablespoon olive oil and the onion. Saute until aromatic, about 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and oregano, followed by the ground beef and one jar of sauce. Stir to combine and reduce to a simmer. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Step 3
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Step 4
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add shells and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 9 minutes. Strain; feel free to reserve some pasta water to add to the sauce if you like.
Step 5
Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in another pan over medium heat and add the garlic. Saute until lightly golden. Transfer garlic to a mixing bowl with ricotta, mozzarella, spinach, basil, and lemon zest and juice. Add salt to taste.
Step 6
Pour remaining tomato sauce into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spoon the cheese mixture into the shells followed by the meat mixture. As you finish stuffing each shell, place it in the sauce. Top with Parmesan cheese.
Step 7
Bake in the preheated oven until the shells are hot in the center and the mozzarella cheese is melted and bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings Per Recipe 9 | |
Calories 540 | |
% Daily Value * | |
Total Fat26g | 34% |
Saturated Fat13g | 63% |
Cholesterol99mg | 33% |
Sodium999mg | 43% |
Total Carbohydrate37g | 14% |
Dietary Fiber4g | 14% |
Total Sugars6g | |
Protein39g | |
Vitamin C18mg | 88% |
Calcium651mg | 50% |
Iron4mg | 24% |
Potassium782mg | 17% |
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient.If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
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source by allrecipe
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