Meatball Stuffed Pasta Shells

  • 4

Ingredients

  • Ingredients
  • for 4 servings
  • MEATBALLS
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup dried minced onion, fine
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • pepper, to taste
  • RICOTTA-HERB MIXTURE
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese
  • ½ cup fresh basil, chopped
  • ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 12 oz jumbo pasta shell, cooked according to package instructions
  • 32 oz marinara sauce
  • parmesan cheese, for sprinkling
  • fresh basil, chopped, for garnish

Preparation

Step 1

Preparation
In a medium bowl, mix together the beef, pork, bread crumbs, onion, Parmesan cheese, garlic, parsley, eggs, salt, and pepper until just combined.
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
Take a walnut-sized portion of the meat mixture and roll into a ball. Repeat with remaining meat and transfer to an oiled wire rack set over a baking sheet.
Bake the meatballs for 10 minutes, until golden brown.
Make the ricotta-herb mixture: combine the ricotta cheese, basil, parsley, Parmesan cheese, and salt in a medium bowl and mix well.
Stuff a tablespoon of ricotta mixture into a jumbo shells, then stuff a meatball into the shells.
Spread the marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch (23x33-cm) casserole dish, then lay in the stuffed shells. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
Bake for 10 minutes, until the marinara sauce is warm.
Top with chopped basil.
Enjoy!