Italian Stuffed Shells

By Susan52

Ingredients

• 12 jumbo shells (uncooked)
• 12 ounces 95 percent lean ground beef
• 14 1/2 ounces no-salt-added tomatoes, undrained (for sauce)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh mushrooms (4 ounces)
• 1 cup chopped onion (1 large)
• 1/2 cup shredded carrot (1 medium)
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, crushed
• 1 cup shredded reduced-fat Italian blend cheese (2 ounces)
• 1 medium tomato, chopped

Details

Servings 6
Preparation time 20mins
Adapted from favehealthyrecipes.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook Pasta about 9 minutes. It will seem too firm to eat, but it will finish cooking in the oven and soften up. When the pasta is finished, make sure to drain it, then rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set pasta aside.

In medium skillet, brown the beef for several minutes, using wooden spoon. Drain fat when meat is finished and set aside.

Wash the skillet used for the meat, then add oil over medium heat. Add mushrooms, onion, garlic, celery, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Cook for 6-8 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently.

Add canned tomatoes and liquid and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat.

Put the tomato mixture into a blender and blend/process until it reaches the desired sauce texture. (Slightly chunky recommended)

Pour ¾ cup of the sauce into a vessel and set it aside.

Pour the remaining sauce back into the skillet, add the meat, and stir until combined.

Using a Tablespoon measuring spoon, stuff each Jumbo shell, placing every one into the baking dish which you have precoated with nonstick cooking spray. Spoon a little of the ¾ sauce remainder over each shell.

Cover with tin foil or baking dish cover, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle cheese evenly over each shell, then bake for 5 more minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Serve and enjoy immediately!