Cheesy Sausage-Stuffed Pasta Shells 🍝🧀🌿✨
Golden, cheesy, and hearty—these jumbo pasta shells are stuffed with savory Italian sausage and baked in marinara sauce. A crowd-pleasing comfort dish perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients 🛒
- 24 jumbo pasta shells (about 8 oz dry)
- 1½ lbs Italian sausage, casings removed (mild or hot)
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 2 cups marinara or pasta sauce
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning (optional)
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
Directions 👩🍳
- Prep oven: Preheat to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook shells: Boil pasta shells until just shy of al dente (1–2 minutes less than package directions). Drain and cool slightly.
- Cook sausage: In a skillet, brown Italian sausage until fully cooked. Drain excess fat. Stir in 1 cup mozzarella and seasoning.
- Stuff shells: Fill each shell with sausage mixture. Arrange in baking dish over a thin layer of marinara sauce.
- Top with sauce & cheese: Pour remaining marinara over shells. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley. Enjoy hot!
Tips 🌟
- Extra creamy: Mix ricotta into the sausage filling.
- Variation: Use ground turkey or chicken sausage for a lighter option.
- Serving idea: Pair with garlic bread and salad.
Details
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: ~1 hour
- Servings: 6–8
Caption & Engagement
Caption: “Cheesy Sausage-Stuffed Pasta Shells—comfort baked to perfection 🍝🧀🌿✨”
- Comment prompt: “Would you add ricotta or keep it simple?”
- Rotating closers: “Save for your next pasta night.” • “Tag a friend who loves cheesy bakes.” • “Simple steps, bold comfort.”