Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef & Cheese

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This recipe has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MuellersMatchmaker #CollectiveBias

To me, dinner is the most important meal of the day. It is the one meal during the day when we are all together as a family. This is something we try to do every day – gather together for dinner. This Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef & Cheese recipe is great for weeknight meals.

Easy Baked Stuffed Shells Recipe (with ground beef and cheese)

Today’s the last day of January and I am ready for a new month. This year started out with a lot of sickness in my house from strep throat to influenza getting passed around, it hasn’t been pretty. It put things in a funk and I am ready to take things head-on and turn it around.

One thing that helps me have a productive smooth week is lots of prepping on Sundays. I get the house straightened up, make sure all the laundry is caught up, make all my lists for the week, update my calendar, and plan meals for the week ahead. Plan. Plan. Plan. That is the key.

Pasta Matchmaker Quiz

This past weekend I was struggling to come up with new meal ideas for the week. I feel like I am always making the same things. Pasta is a weekly must, as the boys have never had a pasta dish they didn’t like. However, I needed new inspiration. So I went to Pasta Matchmakers looking for new recipes to try.

They have a quiz that is designed to give a custom result based on what occasion you are planning for and the mood you are in. After taking the quiz with the hopes of getting a family meal for a weeknight, I was paired with this Stuffed Shells recipe which included all the boys’ favorite things: pasta, ground beef, cheese, and red sauce.

Mueller's Pasta at Schnucks

After I am done planning my meals, I make a very detailed grocery list and head to the store. While I was at Schnucks, I grabbed Mueller’s® Jumbo Shells for pasta night.

Mueller's Jumbo Shells

Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef & Cheese Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 20 Mueller’s® Jumbo Shells
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 15 ounce container ricotta (or cottage cheese)
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 (26 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce, divided
  • Additional grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Easy Baked Stuffed Shells Recipe (with ground beef and cheese)

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain well and set aside.

Easy Baked Stuffed Shells Recipe (with ground beef and cheese)

Cook the beef & garlic in a large skillet over medium heat until lightly browned. Remove from heat and pour off excess drippings, if necessary.

Easy Baked Stuffed Shells Recipe (with ground beef and cheese)

Mix together ricotta, mozzarella, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, and egg in a large bowl.

Easy Baked Stuffed Shells Recipe (with ground beef and cheese)

Stir the ground beef into the cheese mixture, combining thoroughly.

Easy Baked Stuffed Shells Recipe (with ground beef and cheese)

Spread 1 cup spaghetti sauce in a 13×9-inch baking dish.

Easy Baked Stuffed Shells Recipe (with ground beef and cheese)

Spoon about ¼ cup of the cheese/ground beef mixture into each shell and place in baking dish in a single layer.

Easy Baked Stuffed Shells Recipe (with ground beef and cheese)

Sprinkle any remaining meat mixture over shells. Top shells with the remaining spaghetti sauce. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese.

Easy Baked Stuffed Shells Recipe (with ground beef and cheese)

Bake for 25 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Easy Baked Stuffed Shells Recipe (with ground beef and cheese)

Serve immediately. We like to have french bread and salad on pasta night.

The recipe is also fun for weekends to let the kids help make the mixture and stuff the shells. More family time!

Easy Baked Stuffed Shells Recipe (with ground beef and cheese)

Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef & Cheese

Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef & Cheese

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

Stuffed shells with ground beef and cheese is a quick and easy family meal perfect for any weeknight.

Ingredients

  • 20 Mueller's® Jumbo Shells
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 (15 ounces) container ricotta (or cottage cheese)
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 (26 ounces) jar spaghetti sauce, divided
  • Additional grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain well and set aside.
  3. Cook beef & garlic in a large skillet over medium heat until lightly browned. Remove from heat and pour off excess drippings, if necessary.
  4. Mix together ricotta, mozzarella, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, and egg in a large bowl. Stir the ground beef into the cheese mixture, combining thoroughly.
  5. Spread 1 cup spaghetti sauce in a 13x9-inch baking dish.
  6. Spoon about ¼ cup of the cheese/ground beef mixture into each shell and place in a baking dish in a single layer.
  7. Sprinkle any remaining meat mixture over shells.
  8. Top shells with the remaining spaghetti sauce. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese.
  9. Bake for 25 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag @NiftyMom on Instagram or @1NiftyMom on Facebook!

Easy Baked Stuffed Shells Recipe (with ground beef and cheese)

If you are looking for new pasta dishes that are versatile, head to Pasta Matchmakers to find a recipe that fits into your evening. I have already planned another dish for next week and I hope to share it with you, too! You can also find more recipe inspiration here.

Pasta Matchmaker Challenge

On Pasta Matchmakers, you can also take part in the Pasta Matchmaker Challenges! You can put your own spin on a Mueller’s® classic recipe and submit for a change to win prizes. Contest dates are as follows:

  • Challenge #1: January 1 – January 21
  • Challenge #2: January 22 – February 4
  • Challenge #3: February 5 – February 18
  • Challenge #4: February 19 – March 4
  • Challenge #5: March 5 – March 18
  • Challenge #6: March 19 – April 1

Easy Baked Stuffed Shells Recipe (with ground beef and cheese)

What pasta dish will you be making?

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15 comments on Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef & Cheese

  • Carrie @ourpotluckfamily

    Wow, this looks like it turned out delicious! I make stuffed shells sometimes, but I have never added ground beef. This may be my next pasta dish to try out! #client

  • Heather Brummett

    This recipe sounds amazing! I love that you can take the quiz and get dinner inspiration for when you just don’t know what to make.

  • Jessica @ Citrus Blossom Bliss

    I have yet to make stuffed shells on my own in my adult life, but my mom always made these (without the beef). This recipe has me feeling all nostalgic and I could definitely see myself adding the meat now :) Thank you for the pasta inspiration!

  • Melissa Saturno

    Thank you for this recipe. My whole family loves this. It is absolutely delicious.

  • Lauri Dunn

    I love this recipe but I do a mixture of ground beef and italian sausage with the cheese. It adds so much flavor. You should try it!

    • Samantha (author)

      GREAT idea! I will be doing this next week!

  • Danna Kennedy

    So I’ve use this recipe 2 times now and I want to say it’s amazing thank you so much

    • Samantha (author)

      YAY! Thank you for sharing :)

  • Kevin Miller

    I made this recipe the other day and it was amazing.! My family loved it. Thanks for sharing. I will make it again but i think im going to try something different and use rice in it instead of ricotta and try cheddar cheese and add a little spagetti sauce to the meat.

    • Samantha (author)

      Great ideas!

  • CHERI HEDGES

    I am going to make this Friday for the homeless shelter aka THE WARMING HOUSE. About how many per person ( men) with seconds. I like the idea they. Are so easily frozen–in case I make too many!

    • Samantha (author)

      That is so nice of you! We normally do 3-4 per person. Also, my parents like to stuff manicotti pasta, as they think it is easier and quicker to go.

  • Caesar Pena

    I literallty just made this and its in the oven. Siiiiiiis and its smells delicious.

  • Tiffany Knight

    Making this recipe for dinner right now as I’m typing this and can’t wait to eat it haha

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