About
This pasta dish is the stuff that comfort-food dreams are made of! Stuffed Italian Shells entrap all the spices and tomato goodness that you long for. This beyond cheesy mixture, encapsulated in the bigger-than-life tender pasta shells, sits proudly on a mouthful of fabulous, saucy flavor. When your hearty appetite needs something bigger than skinny-minnie pasta, this Italian feast is just what you are looking for. Let Stuffed Italian Shells be your go-to when it comes to great, filling food made fast. You will be the one that ends up stuffed!
Ingredients
- 20 jumbo pasta shells
- 1 pound ground chuck
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 (26-ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 2 cups small curd cottage cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
- 3/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated, divided
- fresh basil leaves, to taste, chopped, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 -Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
Step 3 -In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook the pasta shells to al dente according to the package directions.
Step 4 -Drain the pasta shells and place them upside down on a baking sheet to dry.
Step 5 -In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground chuck, while crumbling, until it is no longer pink. Drain the excess fat.
Step 6 -Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the oil and the onion to the meat, and cook until the onion is translucent, about 30 seconds.
Step 7 -Add the garlic to the meat mixture and cook until it is fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Step 8 -Reduce the heat to low, add the marinara sauce to the meat mixture, and simmer, uncovered, while stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
Step 9 -In a medium bowl, mix the egg, the cottage cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, and 1/2 cup of the parmesan cheese together.
Step 10 -Pour 3/4 of the meat sauce in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Step 11 -Stuff the cooked shells with 1 rounded tablespoon of the cheese mixture and arrange them on top of the meat sauce, open-side up.
Step 12 -Spoon the remaining meat sauce in between the shells but not directly on top of them.
Step 13 -Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
Step 14 -Carefully discard the foil, sprinkle the shells with the remaining mozzarella cheese and the remaining parmesan cheese, and bake until the cheese has melted, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 15 -Garnish the shells with the basil and serve.
