**Baked Stuffed Shells: A Classic Italian Dish with a Twist**
Baked stuffed shells are a delightful Italian-American dish that combines the flavors of pasta, cheese, meat, and sauce in a single bite. These jumbo pasta shells are filled with a savory mixture of ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses, along with ground beef, Italian sausage, and a touch of herbs and spices. Swimming in a rich and flavorful tomato sauce, these stuffed shells are then baked until golden brown and bubbly, creating a comforting and hearty meal that is perfect for special occasions or everyday dinners. With variations including vegetarian options, seafood fillings, and different types of sauces, the baked stuffed shells recipes in this article offer a range of flavors and styles to satisfy every palate.
**Recipes:**
1. **Classic Baked Stuffed Shells:** This traditional recipe uses a combination of ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses, along with ground beef and Italian sausage, to create a hearty and flavorful filling. The shells are baked in a simple tomato sauce, making this dish a classic comfort food.
2. **Vegetarian Baked Stuffed Shells:** For a meatless version, this recipe swaps out the beef and sausage for a combination of spinach, mushrooms, and bell peppers. The filling is still packed with flavor, thanks to the addition of ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses.
3. **Seafood Baked Stuffed Shells:** This recipe takes a coastal twist on the classic dish, using a combination of shrimp, scallops, and crab meat as the filling. The shells are baked in a creamy Alfredo sauce, creating a rich and indulgent meal.
4. **Baked Stuffed Shells with Pesto Sauce:** This recipe adds a vibrant and herbaceous flavor to the traditional dish with the use of a homemade pesto sauce. The filling is made with a combination of ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses, along with ground beef and Italian sausage.
5. **Baked Stuffed Shells with Vodka Sauce:** For a slightly spicy and tangy variation, this recipe uses a vodka sauce to bake the stuffed shells. The filling is made with a combination of ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses, along with ground beef and Italian sausage, and the vodka sauce adds a unique depth of flavor.
BAKED CHEESEBURGER-STUFFED SHELLS
All the flavors of the classic cheeseburger stuffed into pasta shells and smothered in delicious cheese for a twist on fast food you'll love.
Provided by Karly Campbell
Categories Entree
Time 50m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Cool 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in 10-inch skillet, cook beef over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink; drain. Stir in Worcestershire sauce and seasoned salt. Stir in Cheddar cheese.
- In small bowl, mix tomato sauce, ketchup and mustard. Spread in baking dish.
- Use spoon to stuff beef mixture into shells; arrange in tomato sauce mixture in baking dish. Pour cheese sauce over all.
- Cover with foil; bake 20 minutes.
- Top with remaining ingredients.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 900, Carbohydrate 69 g, Cholesterol 135 mg, Fat 4, Fiber 3 g, Protein 46 g, SaturatedFat 18 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 3010 mg, Sugar 20 g, TransFat 1 1/2 g
BAKED SAUSAGE-STUFFED JUMBO PASTA SHELLS
A Canadian Living hit with the Ontario ZAARians, at our Annual Appy-fest. While this recipe actually calls for mild Italian sausge I used Bajan-seasoning called Delish-Dish in a meatball stuffing. I doubt that many ZAARians have "Bajan Delish-Dish" in their pantry.To stay true to the original recipe, therefore, I shall post the recipe as it appears in Canadian Living.. I like the recipe because of the ease with which ingredients combine to produce an interestingly flavourful filling. Can be used as a main course, or appetiser.
Provided by TOOLBELT DIVA
Categories Pasta Shells
Time 1h5m
Yield 16 Jumbo Stuffed shells, 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425F (220C)
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta shells until tender, but firm; about 14 minutes. Drain and set aside for future use.
- Meanwhile, in a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat; cook onion, green pepper and garlic until softened, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; stir in sausage, egg and parsley.,
- Place 1 heaping tbsp mixture in each of the shells. Arrange in greased, 8 inch glass baking dish.
- In a bowl, stir together tomatoes, oregano and salt Spoon over stuffed shells.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan cheeses; cover and bake in 425F oven for 20 minutes.
- Uncover and bake further 10 minutes, or until cheese is golden and instant read, digital thermometer inserted in the centre of shell registers 160°F.
BAKED STUFFED SHELLS
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. For sauce: In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir about 3 minutes or until onion is tender. Carefully add undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, dried basil and oregano (if using), and salt. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 15 minutes or until desired consistency. Remove from heat; stir in snipped fresh basil and oregano (if using). Set aside 3/4 cup of the sauce; spoon the remaining sauce into a 2-quart rectangular baking dish. Set aside. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain again. For filling: Place tofu in a blender or food processor. Cover and blend or process until smooth. Add egg, Parmesan cheese, and pepper; cover and blend or process just until combined. Spoon about 3 tablespoons of the filling into each pasta shell. Arrange filled shells, filling sides up, atop sauce in baking dish. Spoon the reserved 3/4 cup sauce over top. Bake, covered, about 35 minutes or until heated through. Uncover and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, about 2 minutes more or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. If desired, top with shredded fresh basil.
Tips:
- To make the filling, you can use any type of cheese that melts well. Mozzarella, ricotta, and Parmesan are all good options.
- If you don't have a piping bag, you can use a spoon to stuff the shells.
- To make the shells easier to stuff, cook them for a minute or two less than the package directions.
- If you want a crispy topping, sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese or breadcrumbs on top of the shells before baking.
- Serve the shells with your favorite pasta sauce or a simple marinara sauce.
Conclusion:
Baked stuffed shells are a delicious and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for any occasion. Whether you are feeding a family or hosting a party, these shells are sure to be a hit. So next time you are looking for a new pasta dish to try, give baked stuffed shells a try. You won't be disappointed!
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