Description
Comforting and savory, these Sausage & Ricotta Stuffed Shells are the ultimate dish to satisfy your cravings for a fulfilling meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 20 large pasta shells
- 1 pound of beef or chicken sausage (remove casing)
- 1 cup of ricotta cheese
- 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups of marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta shells according to the package instructions until they are al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Spread them out on a baking sheet to prevent sticking.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add your sausage. Break it up with a wooden spoon and sauté until browned and cooked through, which should take about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat and let it cool slightly.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked sausage, ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella cheese, egg, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir until all ingredients are well combined and creamy.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce at the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Carefully fill each cooked shell with the sausage and ricotta mixture using a spoon or piping bag. Place filled shells seam-side up in the baking dish.
- Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the stuffed shells, covering them generously. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. After that, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Let the dish cool for a few minutes before serving, and garnish with fresh herbs for that pop of color and flavor.
Notes
You can prepare the filling a day in advance and assemble and bake on the day of serving. Try different sausage types for varying flavors.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 85mg