🍝 Creamy Ricotta Beef Stuffed Shells 🐄

A Perfect Blend of Comfort and Flavor for Your Next Family Dinner!

🍽️ Ingredients 🍽️
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 20 large pasta shells

🧑‍🍳 Directions 🧑‍🍳
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook the pasta shells according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside to cool.
2. While the pasta cooks, brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain any excess fat and set aside to cool slightly.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir in the cooled ground beef, half of the mozzarella, and parsley.
4. Spread half of the marinara sauce on the bottom of a baking dish.
5. Fill each pasta shell with the ricotta and beef mixture and place them in the baking dish.
6. Top the stuffed shells with the remaining marinara sauce and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
8. Let the dish cool for 5 minutes before serving.

🍎 Nutritional Information 🍎
- Calories: 320 per serving
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Protein: 20g
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Sodium: 470mg

💡 Tips and Tricks 💡
- For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey for beef and use part-skim ricotta and mozzarella.
- Add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to the beef mixture for an extra kick.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for a quick meal later.

⏳ Preparation time ⏳
Preparation time: 20 minutes | Cooking time: 30 minutes | Serving: 6