Name: Creamy Beef Shells Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 12 oz large pasta shells; 1 medium onion, diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes; 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce; 1 tbsp tomato paste; 1 tsp dried basil; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese; 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese; 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1 cup heavy cream; 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Description

Creamy Beef Shells Casserole is the ultimate comfort food featuring large pasta shells stuffed with a rich cheese mixture, nestled in savory beef and tomato sauce.

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb ground beef
12 oz large pasta shells
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

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Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Bring salted water to a boil and cook the pasta shells until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Heat olive oil in a skillet, then add the onion and garlic, sautéing until softened. Add the ground beef and cook until browned.
Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, dried basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer on low for about 10 minutes.
In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and heavy cream until smooth.
Stuff each pasta shell with the creamy cheese mixture.
Spread a layer of the beef mixture in the baking dish, then arrange the stuffed shells on top.
Pour the remaining beef mixture over the stuffed shells and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25-30 minutes, removing foil for the last 5 minutes to brown the cheese.
Let it sit for about 5 minutes, garnish with parsley, and serve hot.

Notes

For extra flavor, consider adding spinach or mushrooms to the filling. Utilize pre-cooked ground beef for a quicker preparation.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 475
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 600mg
Fat: 20g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Unsaturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 25g
Cholesterol: 60mg