Ingredients:

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 12 oz jumbo pasta shells
  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions:

  1. Brown the meat. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon until browned and fully cooked.
  2. Add aromatics. Stir in the minced garlic for 60 seconds until fragrant, then drain the excess fat. Note: Draining the fat prevents the cheese filling from becoming greasy.
  3. Mix the cheese. In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta, 1 cup of mozzarella, Parmesan, beaten egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  4. Combine filling. Fold in the cooked ground beef until the mixture is uniform.
  5. Prep the pan. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce across the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  6. Stuff the shells. Fill each under boiled pasta shell generously with the beef and ricotta mixture and arrange them closely in the baking dish.
  7. Add toppings. Top the shells with the remaining marinara sauce and the final cup of mozzarella cheese.
  8. First bake. Cover the dish with foil (tented) and bake for 20 minutes.
  9. Final brown. Remove foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.