“Stuffed Shells with Ricotta Cheese and Meat Sauce”

Who loves Italian food? Stuffed Shells with Ricotta cheese and Meat Sauce is a dish my Mom would make occasionally. Up until I was 15 years old, Mom stayed at home so my Dad, sister and I had delicious home cooked meals. When she decided to go back to work after so many years, I took over much of the cooking. So I adapted this recipe for Stuffed Shells with Ricotta Cheese and Meat Sauce from her.

Featuring jumbo pasta shells stuffed with a creamy ricotta cheese mixture topped with marinara sauce and bubbly, mozzarella cheese, who can resist? I’m a sucker for any cheesy dish. Serve with garlic bread topped with my Parmesan Onion Butter. You’ve got a meal fit for family night dinner. Give Stuffed Shells with Ricotta Cheese and Meat Sauce a try. You’ll love this recipe.

Stuffed Shells with Ricotta Cheese and Meat Sauce

Stuffed Shells with Ricotta Cheese and Meat Sauce

Stuffed Shells with Ricotta Cheese and Meat Sauce

Stuffed Shells with Ricotta Cheese and Meat Sauce

Stuffed Shells with Ricotta and Meat Sauce

3/4 box (28 to 30) Jumbo Pasta Shells (Barilla)

1 – 24 oz. jar Marinara sauce

1 lb. ground beef or Italian sausage

2 – 16 oz. containers Ricotta cheese

2 eggs

½ cup Parmesan cheese

½ cup milk

4 T. fresh parsley, chopped or 2 T. dried parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large pot, cook Pasta shells according to package directions, depending on brand used. Drain; place on baking sheet, set aside.

Using a 12 inch skillet, brown ground beef or Italian sausage until no pink remains. Once meat is browned, add marinara sauce. Cook for about 10 minutes; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine Ricotta cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, milk, parsley, ½ t. salt and ½ t. pepper.

Grease a 13×9 baking dish, add half meat sauce; fill shells with Ricotta mixture setting shells on top of sauce. Make sure shells are placed cheese side up.

Cover shells with remaining sauce. Sprinkle mozzarella over meat sauce; Cover baking dish with foil. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until mozzarella cheese is bubbly and browning.

Serve with green salad and garlic bread.