This ground beef stuffed shells recipe is a comforting and satisfying dish that’s perfect for family dinners and gatherings. Inspired by the hearty, crowd-pleasing recipes often associated with the Pioneer Woman, this version is both flavorful and easy to make, becoming a go-to for busy weeknights or make-ahead meals. If you’re searching for Ground Beef Recipes Pioneer Woman style, look no further than these cheesy, meat-filled stuffed shells.
These stuffed shells are not only delicious but also incredibly versatile. They embody the spirit of Pioneer Woman recipes by being approachable, family-friendly, and perfect for feeding a hungry crowd. Like many of Ree Drummond’s dishes, this recipe focuses on simple, wholesome ingredients transformed into something truly special.
Why You’ll Love This Ground Beef Stuffed Shells Recipe
If you are a fan of Pioneer Woman’s style of cooking, which emphasizes hearty, flavorful meals that bring people together, this ground beef stuffed shells recipe will quickly become a new favorite. It’s similar in spirit to her popular pasta dishes, offering a comforting and satisfying experience that’s perfect for family dinners.
This recipe is:
- Family-Friendly: Kids and adults alike love stuffed shells. The combination of pasta, beef, cheese, and marinara sauce is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
- Make-Ahead Meal: Just like many Pioneer Woman recipes are designed for busy ranch life, these stuffed shells can be assembled ahead of time and baked later, or even frozen for future meals.
- Hearty and Satisfying: Packed with ground beef and a rich cheese filling, this dish is incredibly satisfying and perfect for cooler evenings or when you need a comforting meal.
- Easier Than You Think: While stuffing shells might sound time-consuming, this recipe simplifies the process, making it manageable for any home cook.
- Inspired by Pioneer Woman: If you love Pioneer Woman ground beef recipes, this dish captures that same comforting, home-style cooking essence.
Making Pioneer Woman Style Stuffed Shells: Visual Guide
Follow this visual guide to see how easy it is to create these delicious stuffed shells.
Gather your ingredients. Just like any great Pioneer Woman recipe, having everything prepped and ready to go makes the cooking process smooth and enjoyable.
Sauté the aromatics. Start building flavor by sautéing onions until softened, a classic step in many savory Pioneer Woman dishes.
Brown the ground beef. Add ground beef and cook until browned, just as Ree Drummond often does in her hearty beef recipes.
Simmer in marinara sauce. Combine the beef with marinara sauce to create a rich and flavorful meat sauce, the base of our Pioneer Woman inspired stuffed shells.
Mix the cheese filling. Prepare the creamy ricotta filling with spinach, egg, and cheese – a simple yet flavorful mixture reminiscent of many Pioneer Woman comfort food recipes.
Stuff the shells. Fill each cooked jumbo shell with the cheese mixture and arrange them in a baking dish over a bed of marinara sauce.
Top with more sauce. Generously cover the stuffed shells with the remaining marinara sauce.
Add cheese for baking. Sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan cheese for that signature cheesy topping that makes Pioneer Woman style pasta dishes so irresistible.
Bake to golden perfection. Bake until bubbly and golden brown, creating a warm and inviting family meal, perfect for sharing just like Pioneer Woman intended.
Tips for Perfect Stuffed Shells, Pioneer Woman Style
To make sure your ground beef stuffed shells turn out perfectly every time, here are a few key tips, echoing the practical advice often found in Pioneer Woman recipes:
- Cook Pasta Just Right: Boil the jumbo shells slightly less than al dente. This prevents them from becoming too soft and tearing when you stuff them.
- Use Jumbo Shells: For authentic stuffed shells, and to make stuffing easier, use jumbo-sized pasta shells. They are also known as conchiglioni.
- Don’t Overfill: Be generous with the filling, but avoid overstuffing the shells, which can cause them to burst during baking.
- Quality Marinara Sauce: Using a good quality marinara sauce makes a big difference in the overall flavor. Whether homemade or store-bought, choose one you love. For a Pioneer Woman touch, consider a robust, slightly sweet marinara.
- Make it Ahead: Assemble the stuffed shells ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake. This is a great time-saving tip, perfect for busy schedules, just like many Pioneer Woman make-ahead recipes.
Variations to Try
Inspired by the Pioneer Woman’s love for adaptable recipes, here are a few variations to customize your ground beef stuffed shells:
- Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the ground beef mixture or cheese filling for a touch of heat. Pioneer Woman often incorporates Southwestern flavors, so consider a hint of chili powder too.
- Vegetable Boost: Sauté diced vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, or bell peppers with the onion and ground beef for added nutrients and flavor. Pioneer Woman recipes often include fresh vegetables from her garden.
- Different Cheeses: Experiment with different cheese blends in the filling or topping. Provolone, mozzarella, and Parmesan are classic, but you could also try Fontina or Asiago. Pioneer Woman isn’t afraid to use a good mix of cheeses!
- Italian Sausage: Replace half of the ground beef with Italian sausage for a richer, more complex flavor. Pioneer Woman sometimes combines ground beef with sausage in her Italian-inspired dishes.
- Deconstructed Shells: If you can’t find jumbo shells, create a deconstructed version by layering cooked medium shells, meat sauce, and ricotta mixture in a baking dish, just like a pasta bake. Easier than stuffing, and still delicious!
Freezing and Storing Instructions
Just like many of Pioneer Woman’s make-ahead meals, these stuffed shells freeze beautifully, making them perfect for meal prepping or saving leftovers.
- To Freeze Unbaked: Assemble the 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 about 15-20 minutes to the baking time.
- To Freeze Baked: Let the baked stuffed shells cool completely, then cover and freeze as above. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating in the oven until heated through.
- To Store in Refrigerator: Store baked stuffed shells in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave.
What to Serve with Ground Beef Stuffed Shells
For a complete Pioneer Woman style family meal, serve these stuffed shells with:
- Garlic Bread: A classic side for pasta dishes.
- Side Salad: A fresh green salad with a simple vinaigrette.
- Roasted Vegetables: Roasted broccoli, asparagus, or green beans.
- Caesar Salad: A creamy Caesar salad complements the richness of the stuffed shells.
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- Jumbo Pasta Shells: Essential for this recipe. If unavailable, try the deconstructed version. Gluten-free jumbo shells can be used, or any gluten-free pasta for deconstructed shells.
- Ground Beef: Lean ground beef is recommended, but any ground beef works. Ground turkey is a leaner alternative.
- Marinara Sauce: Use your favorite homemade or store-bought marinara.
- Ricotta Cheese: Part-skim ricotta is used for a lighter filling, but full-fat ricotta is also delicious. Whipped feta can be substituted if needed. For dairy-free, use dairy-free ricotta.
- Italian Cheese Blend: Part-skim Italian cheese blend or mozzarella works well. Dairy-free mozzarella can be used for a dairy-free version.
- Spinach: Frozen spinach is convenient; thaw and squeeze out excess water. Fresh spinach can be sautéed and squeezed.
More Pioneer Woman Inspired Ground Beef Recipes
If you love ground beef recipes Pioneer Woman style, you might also enjoy these dishes:
- Ground Turkey Pasta (easily adaptable with ground beef)
- Easy Ground Beef & Mushroom Ragu Sauce
- Slow Cooker Meatballs (use ground beef)
- Easiest Crock Pot Lasagna (ground beef lasagna)
- Ground Turkey Spaghetti (use ground beef)
Pioneer Woman Ground Beef Stuffed Shells Recipe
By Robyn Conley Downs
Prep Time: 25 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins
Total Time: 1 hour 10 mins
Servings: 9
This hearty and easy stuffed shells with ground beef recipe is a perfect make-ahead meal that the whole family will love, reminiscent of classic Pioneer Woman comfort food.
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Ingredients
- 27 jumbo pasta shells
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 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 (or shredded mozzarella), divided
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, divided
- Optional Topping: Chopped fresh parsley
Equipment
- Large pot
- Large skillet
- Large bowl
- 9×13 inch baking dish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook shells in a large pot of salted water for 2-3 minutes less than package directions (just under al dente). Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion with ¼ teaspoon salt until translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute, stirring frequently.
- Add ground beef and ¼ teaspoon salt. Sauté until browned and cooked through, breaking into small pieces, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess oil if desired.
- Stir in marinara sauce and remove from heat.
- In a large bowl, combine ricotta, egg, spinach, 1 cup Italian cheese blend, ¼ cup parmesan, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix well.
- Fill each cooked shell with about 2 heaping tablespoons of ricotta mixture.
- Spread half of the beef marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Arrange stuffed shells in the dish, and top with remaining beef marinara sauce and remaining 1 cup mozzarella and ¼ cup parmesan.
- Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 5 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley, if using, and serve hot.
Recipe Notes
See the blog post above for substitution suggestions including dairy-free and gluten-free options, storage instructions, and serving suggestions to complete your Pioneer Woman style meal.
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition Information
Serving: 3 stuffed shells with beef sauce, Calories: 439kcal, Carbohydrates: 48g, Protein: 43g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 70mg, Sodium: 796mg, Potassium: 2401mg, Fiber: 18g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 63482IU, Vitamin C: 37mg, Calcium: 986mg, Iron: 13mg
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Originally published on Mar 5, 2023 (Last updated Dec 19, 2024)
