This satisfying and straightforward stuffed shells with ground beef recipe brings comfort food to your table any night of the week. Inspired by classic Pioneer Woman recipes, this dish is perfect for a family dinner, potlucks, or even a make-ahead freezer meal. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that combines the hearty flavors of ground beef with cheesy, saucy goodness all nestled in jumbo pasta shells.
A Homage to Comfort Food: Ground Beef Stuffed Shells
If you’re searching for a recipe that embodies the warmth and generosity of Pioneer Woman’s cooking, look no further than these ground beef stuffed shells. This isn’t just another pasta dish; it’s a comforting embrace in a shell, filled with a rich mixture of ground beef, savory herbs, and creamy cheeses, all bathed in a luscious marinara sauce. Perfect for those evenings when you crave something truly satisfying and reminiscent of home-cooked goodness, this recipe takes the essence of Pioneer Woman’s hearty meals and brings it to your kitchen.
For fans of Ree Drummond’s (the Pioneer Woman) approach to family-friendly meals, this recipe echoes her style – approachable, flavorful, and designed to feed a hungry crowd. While perhaps not a direct Pioneer Woman recipe, it captures the spirit of her hearty, meat-centric dishes that families adore. It’s a streamlined version, focusing on ease and maximizing flavor with simple, wholesome ingredients.
This ground beef stuffed shells recipe is designed to be a complete meal in one pan. Ground beef adds substance and protein, transforming traditional cheese-filled shells into a more substantial dinner option. It’s also incredibly versatile. Make it ahead of time for busy weeknights, or double the batch to feed a larger gathering. The possibility of freezing makes it a fantastic option for meal prepping and ensuring you always have a comforting, home-cooked meal ready to go.
Mastering the Art of Stuffed Shells: A Visual Guide
Let’s walk through the simple steps to create these mouthwatering ground beef stuffed shells. From prepping your ingredients to the final bake, this visual guide ensures success every time.
Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients. Having everything prepped and ready makes the cooking process smooth and enjoyable. You’ll need jumbo pasta shells, ground beef, onion, garlic, marinara sauce, ricotta cheese, spinach, Italian cheese blend, and parmesan cheese.
Step 2: Sauté Aromatics. Start by sautéing chopped onions until they become translucent. Then, add minced garlic and cook until fragrant. This builds a flavorful base for the ground beef.
Step 3: Brown the Ground Beef. Add ground beef to the skillet with the aromatics. Season with salt and cook until fully browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
Step 4: Simmer in Marinara Sauce. Pour in your favorite marinara sauce and let it simmer. This allows the flavors to meld together beautifully, creating a rich meat sauce.
Step 5: Prepare the Ricotta Filling. In a separate bowl, combine ricotta cheese, an egg, thawed and squeezed spinach, parmesan cheese, and Italian cheese blend. Mix until well combined for a creamy, cheesy filling.
Step 6: Stuff the Shells. Cook jumbo pasta shells until just under al dente. Stuff each shell generously with the ricotta mixture. Arrange stuffed shells in a baking dish layered with some of the marinara meat sauce.
Step 7: Sauce and Cheese. Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the stuffed shells. Top generously with shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
Step 8: Bake to Golden Perfection. Bake in a preheated oven until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown.
Step 9: Serve and Enjoy! Let the stuffed shells cool slightly before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and enjoy this comforting, Pioneer Woman-inspired meal.
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Ground Beef Stuffed Shells
Creating perfect stuffed shells is easier than you might think. Here are some key process tips to ensure your dish is a success, echoing the helpful advice often found in Pioneer Woman recipes.
- Pasta Perfection: Cook your jumbo shells just shy of al dente. This prevents them from becoming too soft and tearing when you stuff them. They will continue to cook in the oven.
- Shell Size Matters: Jumbo shells are essential for this recipe. They are specifically designed for stuffing. Look for “jumbo shells” or “conchiglioni” at your grocery store. Using smaller shells will make stuffing significantly more difficult.
- Marinara Magic: While homemade marinara sauce elevates the dish, a good quality store-bought marinara works wonderfully for convenience. If you have time, consider making your own marinara sauce for an extra layer of flavor, just like Pioneer Woman often emphasizes homemade elements.
- Freezing for Future Feasts: Stuffed shells are freezer-friendly! Assemble the dish, cover tightly, and freeze before baking. To bake from frozen, simply add about 10-15 minutes to the baking time, ensuring it’s heated through and bubbly.
Make-Ahead Marvel: Freezing and Storing Instructions
One of the greatest advantages of this ground beef stuffed shells recipe is its make-ahead and freezer-friendly nature. Just like many Pioneer Woman recipes are designed for busy families, this dish fits perfectly into a make-ahead meal plan.
Freezing Unbaked: Assemble the stuffed shells in a freezer-safe dish, cover tightly with plastic wrap and then foil, and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Bake directly from frozen, adding extra baking time as needed.
Freezing Baked: Bake the stuffed shells according to the recipe. Let them cool completely, then cover tightly and freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating in the oven until heated through.
Storing Leftovers: Store baked stuffed shells in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave until warmed through.
Variations and Substitutions: Customize Your Shells
Make this recipe your own with these easy variations and substitutions, catering to different dietary needs and preferences, much like Pioneer Woman offers variations in her recipes.
- Spice it Up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the ground beef mixture for a subtle kick.
- Vegetarian Option: Substitute the ground beef with sautéed vegetables like mushrooms, zucchini, and bell peppers for a vegetarian version.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free jumbo pasta shells and ensure your marinara sauce is also gluten-free. If jumbo gluten-free shells are unavailable, create a deconstructed casserole using broken gluten-free pasta.
- Dairy-Free: Use dairy-free ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese alternatives to make this dish dairy-free.
Key Ingredients for Ground Beef Stuffed Shells
- Jumbo Pasta Shells: The star of the dish, providing vessels for the delicious filling.
- Ground Beef: Lean ground beef is recommended, but you can use your preferred type. Ground turkey or Italian sausage are also great alternatives for a twist.
- Marinara Sauce: Use your favorite homemade or store-bought marinara sauce. A robust, flavorful sauce is key.
- Ricotta Cheese: Part-skim ricotta keeps the filling creamy yet lighter. Whipped feta can be used as a substitute if ricotta is unavailable.
- Italian Cheese Blend: Adds cheesy goodness. Mozzarella is a good substitute if you don’t have Italian blend.
- Spinach: Frozen spinach is convenient and adds nutritional value. Ensure it’s thawed and squeezed dry to remove excess moisture.
More Hearty Pasta Recipes to Explore
If you enjoyed these ground beef stuffed shells, you might also love these other protein-packed pasta dishes:
- Ground Turkey Pasta
- Easy Ground Beef & Mushroom Ragu Sauce
- Slow Cooker Meatballs
- Easiest Crock Pot Lasagna
Recipe: Pioneer Woman Inspired Ground Beef Stuffed Shells
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 9
This hearty and easy stuffed shells with ground beef recipe, reminiscent of Pioneer Woman’s style, is the perfect make-ahead meal your family will adore!
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Ingredients:
- 27 jumbo pasta shells
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 28 ounces marinara sauce
- 1 (15-oz) container part skim ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 (16-oz) package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed well
- 2 cups part skim shredded Italian cheese blend, divided
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, divided
- Optional Topping: Chopped fresh parsley
Equipment:
- Large pot
- Large skillet
- Large bowl
- Baking dish (9×13 inch or similar)
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven & Cook Shells: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Cook jumbo shells in salted boiling water for 2-3 minutes less than package directions (just under al dente). Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion with ¼ teaspoon salt until translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Brown Ground Beef: Add ground beef and ¼ teaspoon salt to the skillet. Cook until browned, breaking into crumbles, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess oil if desired.
- Add Marinara Sauce: Stir in marinara sauce and remove from heat.
- Prepare Ricotta Filling: In a large bowl, combine ricotta, egg, spinach, 1 cup Italian cheese blend, ¼ cup parmesan, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix well.
- Stuff Shells: Fill each cooked shell with about 2 heaping tablespoons of ricotta mixture.
- Assemble Dish: Spread half of the beef marinara sauce in the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange stuffed shells on top.
- Top with Sauce & Cheese: Pour remaining marinara sauce over shells. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella and ¼ cup parmesan cheese.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve hot.
Recipe Notes:
See blog post for substitution suggestions including dairy-free and gluten-free options, storage, and freezing instructions.
Nutrition Information (per serving):
Calories: 439kcal, Carbohydrates: 48g, Protein: 43g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 70mg, Sodium: 796mg, Fiber: 18g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 63482IU, Vitamin C: 37mg, Calcium: 986mg, Iron: 13mg
Nutrition disclaimer
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