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–+ servings

Meat Stuffed Shells

You don't need ricotta to make the best stuffed shells recipe! These meat stuffed shells are filled with a savory stuffing made from beef and Italian sausage with a hint spinach and mozzarella. Everyone will love this super easy recipe!
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 12 servings

Ingredients

For the shells:
  • 1 pound mild Italian sausage*
  • 1/2 pound ground beef (80-85% lean)
  • 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 12- ounce package frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained of water)
  • 1 cup mozzarella
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
  • Pinch of coarse salt
For the sauce:
  • 2 28- ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons dried basil
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350˚F.
  • Cook pasta shells in salted water according to package directions for al dente.
  • While the pasta is cooking, mix the filling ingredients together in a large bowl until evenly combined.
  • In a separate large bowl, mix the sauce ingredients together.
  • When the pasta is cooked, drain and rinse with cool water.
  • Spread a thin layer of the pasta sauce in the bottom of a large baking dish.
  • Stuff each shell with a few tablespoons of the filling and place into the baking dish. Continue until all shells are stuffed. Top with additional sauce.
  • Cover the pan with foil and bake the shells for 40-45 minutes, or until the filling reaches 160˚F. Remove from oven and allow the shells cool for about 5 - 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

You will probably only use about 3/4 of the cooked shells, but making the whole package will ensure you have enough shells if some break in the cooking or filling process.
* You can substitute ground beef if you prefer or vice versa, just make sure your total amount of ground meat equals 1 ½ pounds.

Nutrition

Calories: 277kcal Carbohydrates: 13g Protein: 16g Fat: 18g Saturated Fat: 7g Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g Monounsaturated Fat: 8g Trans Fat: 0.2g Cholesterol: 76mg Sodium: 530mg Potassium: 536mg Fiber: 3g Sugar: 4g Vitamin A: 3865IU Vitamin C: 9mg Calcium: 157mg Iron: 4mg