Simple Stuffed Shells (With No Meat Option)

May 10, 2023May 10, 20230 2
Simple Stuffed Shells (With No Meat Option) recipe for a quick and easy dinner
in Pasta

Prep

20 min

Cook

35 min

Ready In

55 min

Level

Easy

Rating

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
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Ingredients

1 box jumbo pasta shells , cooked and drained
1 -2 cup light ricotta cheese ( use full amount if not using meat or for extra cheesey )
1 1/2 cups cooked sausage , crumbled ( optional )
1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese , shredded , divided
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves , packed , very finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh romano cheese or 1/4 cup parmesan cheese , grated
1 large egg
1 tablespoon finely minced garlic ( optional ) or 2 teaspoons garlic powder ( optional )
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg , grated
1/8 teaspoon black pepper , to taste
1 jar marinara sauce or ( 26 ounce ) jar homemade pasta sauce

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe
6
Calories
520
Sugar
8g
Fat
23g
Simple Stuffed Shells (With No Meat Option) are a delicious and easy dinner option for those nights when you want to get a healthy meal on the table in no time. This recipe uses jumbo pasta shells filled with a mixture of light ricotta cheese, cooked sausage (optional), mozzarella cheese, parsley, romano or parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, nutmeg and black pepper. Top with your favorite jarred or homemade tomato sauce and bake in the oven for a quick and easy dinner. This dish can be customized to be meatless or meaty, and can be easily prepared ahead of time for a busy weeknight.

Instructions

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2.Cook pasta shells according to package directions. Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
3.In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, cooked sausage (if using), 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, parsley, romano cheese or parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, nutmeg and black pepper.
4.Spread 1/2 cup of the pasta sauce in the bottom of a large baking dish. Fill each pasta shell with about 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture.
5.Place stuffed shells in the baking dish, seam side down. Top with remaining sauce and remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.
6.Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve hot.

PROS

These Simple Stuffed Shells are a quick and easy dinner option that can be made ahead of time.

They can be easily customized to be vegetarian or meaty and are perfect for a crowd-pleasing dish.

The ricotta cheese provides a good source of protein while the whole-grain pasta shells offer a healthy source of fiber.

CONS

The pasta shells can be a bit tricky to stuff and can be time-consuming.

This dish can be high in calories and fat, especially if using sausage or full-fat ricotta cheese.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

This dish can be a nutritious option if made with lean sausage or no meat at all and light ricotta cheese.
Whole-grain pasta shells offer a healthy source of fiber and the dish can be a good source of protein with the ricotta cheese.
The dish can be customized by adding vegetables like spinach or mushrooms for added nutritional value.

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