Want a change from plain spaghetti? Try this easy stuffed pasta shells recipe!

We love pasta, but sometimes spaghetti can get a bit boring. So, these easy stuffed pasta shells are the perfect way to put a little spin on pasta night. Serve with some garlic bread and it’s a great hearty meal.

Easy Pasta Shells Ingredients

Jumbo Pasta Shells – cooked to package directions

Ground beef – I like to use 70/30 or 80/20

Mushrooms

Cottage cheese

Mozzarella cheese – I usually buy blocks and shred myself

Pasta sauce – use your favorite brand and flavor

Italian Seasoning – If you don’t have Italian seasoning, mix together 1 T. dried basil, 1 T. dried oregano, 1 T. dried thyme, 1 1/2 tsp. dried rosemary, and 1/2 tsp. garlic powder. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Garlic powder

Salt & Pepper

Kitchen Tools

Skillet

Measuring spoons & cups

Mixing bowls

Mixing spoons

Large pot – large enough to cook pasta shells

Casserole dish – 9″x13″ or two 8″x8″

Easy Pasta Stuffed Shells

Yield: 8 servings - 5 shells per serving

How to make stuffed pasta shells. Easy dinner.

Ingredients

12 oz. package jumbo shells
1 lb. ground beef
4 oz. mushrooms, chopped
16 oz. cottage cheese
16 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded
48 oz. pasta sauce
1 T. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. garlic powder
Salt and pepper to your taste

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Start cooking the pasta shells per package directions for al dente pasta shells.
Add ground beef to a medium skillet, sprinkle with 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and add salt/pepper. Brown the ground beef over medium heat and drain grease. Set aside.
In a large bowl, add cottage cheese, 12 oz. of the mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, 2 tsp. Italian seasoning, and garlic, along with a dash of salt and pepper to a large bowl. Once the ground beef is done, add that, along with 16 oz. of the pasta sauce. Stir well.
Cover the bottom of a 9"x13" casserole dish or two 8" x 8" casserole dishes with a thin layer of pasta sauce.
Once the shells are cooked, drain and rinse with cold water until they are not steaming hot, as you will be handling these with your hands. Use a small spoon to fill the pasta shells. Set gently into the baking dish, side by side.
Pour pasta sauce over the shells, as well as the remainder of the mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve hot, and sprinkle servings with parmesan cheese if desired.

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