Here’s a rich, comforting Stuffed Meatball Shells recipe—juicy meatballs stuffed into pasta shells, baked in sauce and cheese. It’s hearty, cheesy, and perfect for dinner.
🍝 Stuffed Meatball Shells
🧂 Ingredients
🥩 Meatballs
- 500g ground beef (or beef + pork mix)
- 1 egg
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp milk
- 2–3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (or oregano + basil)
- ½ tsp chili flakes (optional)
🍝 Pasta & sauce
- 20–25 jumbo pasta shells
- 2 cups tomato pasta sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tsp olive oil
🧀 Filling & topping
- 1 cup ricotta or cream cheese (optional but creamy)
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Cook pasta shells
- Boil shells in salted water until slightly undercooked (al dente)
- Drain and set aside
2. Make meatball mixture
- Mix ground meat, egg, breadcrumbs, milk, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and spices
- Combine gently (don’t overmix)
3. Form stuffed shells
- Take a small amount of meat mixture
- Stuff into each pasta shell (like a filling pocket)
- Optionally add a little ricotta inside for extra creaminess
4. Prepare baking dish
- Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce on the bottom of a baking dish
5. Arrange shells
- Place stuffed shells in the dish
- Pour remaining sauce over them evenly
6. Add cheese
- Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan on top
- Drizzle a little olive oil for extra flavor
7. Bake
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F)
- Bake for 25–30 minutes until meat is cooked and cheese is melted and golden
8. Serve
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley
🍽️ Serving ideas
- Garlic bread 🧄
- Green salad 🥗
- Extra parmesan on top 🧀
🧠 Tips for best results
- Don’t overcook pasta before baking
- Use a thick sauce so shells don’t get watery
- Add cheese inside AND on top for extra richness
If you want, I can also give you:
- 🔥 Spicy version with chili beef
- 🧀 Extra cheesy baked version (restaurant-style)
- 🥗 Healthier low-fat version with turkey or chicken meatballs
