Cheesy Stuffed Shells

This is a delicious baked pasta dish with large shells filled with meat, spinach and cheese that children always seem to love. It is kind of a 'spaghetti that behaves itself!'

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 461 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 (16 ounce) package jumbo pasta shells
• 2 cups spaghetti sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach - thawed, drained and squeezed dry
• 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.5 lemon, juiced
• 0.5 pound Italian sausage

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add shells and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and rinse in cold water.

Step 3

Place sausage in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain and crumble. In a large bowl, combine cooked sausage, spinach, ricotta cheese, egg, garlic, lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt, pepper and oregano.

Step 4

Stuff pasta shells with the sausage and cheese mixture and place in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese.

Step 5

Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the pasta is heated through and the cheese is melted.