I can’t believe how much our family loves ANYTHING pasta! But this stuffed pasta shells recipe takes pasta to another level. Extra tasty and comforting! Everything in this dish is a people-pleaser! As you take the first delicious bite, the beautiful pasta layer gives way to the deeper meaty sauce and double cheese. The hint of spinach adds pure delight. Just writing about it makes me hungry! Even cooler is the shell-shaped pasta (conchiglioni in Italian) that’s big enough to fill with all sorts of goodies, like an inside-out lasagna. While my stuffed shells recipe with ground beef has a specific sauce, you can stuff them with almost anything.
Ingredients to Have on Hand
How to Make Stuffed Shells With Ground Beef
Preheat oven to 400℉ (205℃). Cook pasta shells per package instructions. (Photo 1) Cook Beef – While the shells are cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the ground beef until evenly browned, 2-3 minutes. (Photo 2) Sauce – Add the onions, garlic, Italian seasoning, thyme, tomato paste, ½ cup of spaghetti sauce (reserving the rest), salt, and pepper to taste. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, and add the fresh basil and spinach. Cook until wilted. (Photos 3-8)
Stuff – When the shells and the meat sauce are ready, place the shells face up into a large baking dish. Stuff 1½ tablespoons of meat mixture into the opening of each shell. Then, spoon the reserved spaghetti sauce on top. (Photos 9-11) Bake – Mix the mozzarella cheese and Parmesan and sprinkle it on top. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cheeses melt and start to brown. (Photo 12) Serve – Remove from heat and let the stuffed shells rest for about 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley if desired. Serve hot.
Other Shell Stuffing Ideas
Make Ahead Tips
I usually assemble pasta shells stuffed with ground beef ahead in the casserole and refrigerate them for up to 24 hours. Then, come dinner time, I pop them in the oven and bake them as directed. Easy peasy dinner for busy weeknights! 😉 Shortcut
For a fast make ahead, you can stuff uncooked shells. They won’t hold as much filling, and they’ll absorb more liquid, so you’ll want to make extra sauce. Fill the shells and arrange your casserole the same way. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake as the recipe indicates. The pasta should cook to al dente in the oven.
To freeze stuffed shells, assemble them in an oven-proof casserole dish and cover them with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap against them and removing as much air as possible. After that, cover it with aluminum foil and freeze it for 3-4 months. Thaw your stuffed shells in the fridge overnight or bake them frozen (remove the plastic wrap and foil). Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350°F (180℃) for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake until it’s bubbling and the cheese lightly browns.
What Goes With Stuffed Shells
Pasta loves homemade bread. Garlic bread, garlic knot bread, or easy dinner rolls are all excellent choices. To make it healthier, add a Caesar or Greek salad.
More Decadent Cheesy Pasta Recipes
Can’t get enough of cheesy pasta nights? I’ve got loads of them for you to choose from; perfect for weeknight dinner or entertaining! This blog post was originally published in January 2020 and has been updated with additional tips and beautiful photos