Description
This Easy Christmas Stuffed Shells Recipe combines festive cheer with hearty comfort, making it a perfect make-ahead meal for the holiday season. Impress your loved ones with this gourmet-looking dish that’s surprisingly simple to prepare!
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces jumbo pasta shells
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 24–30 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 (24-ounce) jars marinara sauce
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil (optional)
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Non-alcoholic red wine substitute (or beef broth/vegetable broth)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and set aside a large 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the jumbo pasta shells and cook according to package directions until just al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water, then lay them out to dry.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the lean ground beef until fully browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain any excess grease and set aside to cool slightly.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1.5 cups of shredded mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, eggs, parsley, and cooked ground beef. Season with salt, black pepper, and nutmeg, mixing well.
- Pour about half of one jar of marinara sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Stuff each cooked pasta shell with a generous amount of the ricotta and beef filling and arrange them snugly in the baking dish.
- Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the stuffed shells and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese on top.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 15-20 minutes until bubbly and golden brown.
- Let the stuffed shells rest for about 10-15 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed shell
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
Keywords: This recipe can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking. Ensure to cook the pasta shells just al dente to prevent them from becoming mushy during baking.