🍝 Creamy Ricotta Beef Stuffed Shells 🧀

📣 A comforting family favorite that brings the warmth of Italian cooking right into your kitchen!

🍽️ Ingredients 🍽️
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 cups tomato basil sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- 20 large pasta shells
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish

🧑‍🍳 Directions 🧑‍🍳
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Boil the pasta shells in salted water until al dente, then drain and set aside to cool slightly.
3. In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Add garlic and oregano, cooking until fragrant. Remove from heat to cool.
4. In a bowl, combine the cooled beef, ricotta, 1/2 cup mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
5. Spread 1 cup of tomato basil sauce in the bottom of a baking dish. Stuff each shell with the beef-cheese mixture and arrange in the dish.
6. Pour the remaining sauce over the shells and top with the rest of the mozzarella.
7. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes until the cheese is golden.
8. Garnish with parsley and serve warm.

🍎 Nutritional Information 🍎
- Calories: 450 per serving
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Protein: 28g
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
- Sodium: 590mg

💡 Tips and Tricks 💡
- For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey for beef and use low-fat cheeses.
- Add spinach or mushrooms to the filling for extra veggies.

⏳ Preparation time ⏳
- Preparation time: 20 minutes
- Cooking time: 35 minutes
- Serving: 6