Unstuffed Shells

Christina
Christina @cook_3000087
USA

This has the delicious flavors of my favorite stuffed shell recipe, but in a much more weeknight friendly dish.

Unstuffed Shells

This has the delicious flavors of my favorite stuffed shell recipe, but in a much more weeknight friendly dish.

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Ingredients

  1. 4 cupsbasic sized shell pasta
  2. 1 tbsp.olive oil
  3. 1/2yellow onion, diced
  4. 3 clovesgarlic, minced
  5. 1 lb.ground beef (or turkey or sausage)
  6. 1 can (28 oz.)unsalted crushed tomatoes
  7. 1 can (14 oz.)unsalted diced tomatoes
  8. 1 tsp.each dried basil, brown sugar
  9. 1/2 tsp.salt, Italian seasoning
  10. 1/4 tsp.each dried oregano, pepper
  11. 2heaping cups spinach, chopped
  12. 8 oz.ricotta cheese
  13. 1 cupfreshly shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  14. 1/2 cupfreshly grated parmesan cheese

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1

    Begin by cooking the shell pasta according to package directions. Then drain the shells, return them to the pot and set it aside. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13" baking pan with foil and grease it. Set this aside also.

  2. 2

    In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once it's hot, add the onion and beef and cook, stirring often and breaking up the meat as it cooks, until it is no longer pink. Drain any excess fat out.

  3. 3

    Add the garlic to the cooked beef and cook for a minute or so, until fragrant. Then add the crushed tomato, diced tomato, brown sugar and all seasonings, along with the spinach. Once the spinach wilts, remove it from the heat.

  4. 4

    Pour the beef mixture into the pot with the drained shells. Add in the ricotta cheese and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella and stir it all together.

  5. 5

    Pour the shell mixture into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and parmesan evenly over the top and cover with a piece of foil.

  6. 6

    Bake for 20 minutes, then remove the top foil and bake uncovered for 10 more minutes, until everything is heated through and the cheese is golden. Serve immediately and refrigerate any leftovers.

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Christina
Christina @cook_3000087
on
USA
I love to bake and to try out new recipes! I'm always on the lookout for simple dinners for busy weeknights. A lot of the recipes I post on here are ones I've found on Pinterest or from different bloggers, and that I've tried and really enjoyed, but I always reference to where I got the recipe from in the recipe description and the pictures are my own. If there's no source listed, then it's a rare recipe that I came up with. I have two wonderful kids and I hope to pass on my love of cooking and baking to them.
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