Description
A comforting dish of large pasta shells filled with a savory mixture of meats, cheeses, and herbs, all baked to perfection in a rich marinara sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 3/4 pound ground Italian sausage
- 3/4 pound ground beef
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 32 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup cooked spinach, drained and chopped
- 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan
- 1 box jumbo shells
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, for topping
- Fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Cook the jumbo shells according to package instructions until al dente.
- Drain the shells and set aside to cool.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add diced red and green bell peppers to the skillet and saute until tender.
- Mix in ground Italian sausage and ground beef, cooking until browned.
- Stir in marinara sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, then remove from heat.
- Combine ricotta cheese, eggs, chopped spinach, mozzarella, and Parmesan in a separate bowl.
- Stuff each shell with the ricotta mixture, packing it well.
- Pour a little marinara sauce into a baking dish and arrange the stuffed shells in a single layer.
- Cover the shells with remaining sauce and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes, then increase oven temperature to 375°F and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes.
- Broil for a few minutes until the top is golden and bubbly.
Notes
For variations, consider swapping out the ground meats for turkey or using a mix of ricotta and cream cheese for a creamier filling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian