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5 Cheese Stuffed Pasta Shells

By IW Team Member 74 Comments

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5 cheese stuffed pasta shells

My family loves pasta in any form and pasta shells are a big favorite! This dish is easy to make and feeds a crowd. The recipe makes two 9X11 pans. When I make it I often serve one for dinner and freeze one for later. It’s also an excellent dish to take to a potluck dinner. While I usually make this dish with spinach it also tastes great if you use swiss chard instead. The crunch of the swiss chard stems adds a nice texture to the dish. Don’t let the amount of cheese scare you; while it is a rich dish it does make 40 large shells and I find 3 shells is a nice serving size. Add a nice green salad and you have a delicious meal.

Add spinach to beef, onion and garlic mixture.
Add spinach to beef, onion and garlic mixture.

Stuffed Pasta Shells in pan

Cover pasta shells with tomato sauce, cover with tin foil and bake.
Cover pasta shells with tomato sauce, cover with tin foil and bake.

5-Cheese Stuffed Pasta Shells

1 pound Italian sausage bulk or casings removed
1 pound lean ground beef
1 onion chopped fine
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz baby spinach
8 oz cream cheese, cubed
1 Egg
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 ½ cups cottage cheese
Salt and pepper to taste.
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
40 jumbo pasta shells, cooked and cooled.
2 jars pasta sauce, your favorite.

Brown sausage meat and beef. Mix in onion and garlic and cook until onion is soft. Drain fat off if necessary. Add in spinach until wilted. In a large bowl mix meat mixture with spinach, egg, half of the mozzarella, all other cheeses and salt and pepper to taste. Spoon mixture into pasta shells. Put a thin layer of tomato sauce at the bottom of the pan then add stuffed shells in single layer. Pour pasta sauce over shells until nicely covered with sauce. Cover pan with tin foil. Bake in a 350 oven for 45 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Return to oven for 5 minutes.This makes a very large batch. I usually make two 9 x 11 pans and cook one for dinner that night and freeze one for later.  When I am ready to serve the frozen dinner I thaw in the refrigerator overnight then follow the same baking instructions. Feeds approximately 10 – 12 people.

 

5 Cheese Stuffed Pasta Shells
Serves: 10 to 12
Ingredients
  • 1 pound Italian sausage bulk or casings removed
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 onion, chopped fine
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 8 oz baby spinach
  • 8 oz cream cheese, cubed
  • 1 Egg
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 ½ cups cottage cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste.
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 40 jumbo pasta shells, cooked and cooled.
  • 2 jars pasta sauce, your favorite.
Instructions
  1. Brown sausage meat and beef. Mix in onion and garlic and cook until onion is soft. Drain fat off if necessary. Add in spinach until wilted.In a large bowl mix meat mixture with spinach, egg, half of the mozzarella, all other cheeses and salt and pepper to taste. Spoon mixture into pasta shells. Put a thin layer of tomato sauce at the bottom of the pan then add stuffed shells in single layer. Pour pasta sauce over shells until nicely covered with sauce. Cover pan with tin foil. Bake in a 350 oven for 45 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Return to oven for 5 minutes.This makes a very large batch. I usually make two 9 x 11 pans and cook one for dinner that night and freeze one for later. When I am ready to serve the frozen dinner I thaw in the refrigerator overnight then follow the same baking instructions.
3.3.3077

 

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Filed Under: Recipe Box Tagged With: 5 cheese, Recipes, sausage, stuffed pasta shells

Comments

  1. jelly says

    September 5, 2013 at 3:27 am

    That looks great. I have had this dish before. Some different things in your recipe, that I think will give it more flavour. Thanks

    Reply
  2. Terry (My Journey With Candida) says

    September 5, 2013 at 6:44 am

    My mother in law makes these… but I like your recipe better than hers. Going to try this out on my Hubs one day.

    Reply
  3. Jen says

    September 5, 2013 at 6:50 am

    Looks delish!!

    Reply
  4. snickers says

    September 5, 2013 at 7:19 am

    This looks very yummy, and I like the idea of making a big batch and freezing for another day.

    Reply
  5. Dawn ~ Spatulas On Parade says

    September 5, 2013 at 8:11 am

    I would love this, my dh would not. He is not a cheese eater. I’ll have to make it for my son and keep a little for myself.

    Reply
  6. Stormy Gonzalez says

    September 5, 2013 at 8:51 am

    My family loves shells too. I will have to try this, and serve it all up in place of the more traditional ones we serve. This looks soo yummy, and a bit lighter than our version!

    Reply
  7. kristi says

    September 5, 2013 at 9:19 am

    I love the addition of the baby spinach. My family loves pasta too and this would be a big here. I love the idea of freezing a batch for a quick meal on a busy night!

    Reply
  8. Areeba says

    September 5, 2013 at 10:09 am

    Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmy! Me and my twin are the biggest fan of pasta! Thanks for sharing! :))

    Reply
  9. Bobbi Burleson says

    September 5, 2013 at 10:51 am

    Yum yum yum!! With the weather finally cooling down I can actually think about using my oven again!!

    Reply
  10. Tess says

    September 5, 2013 at 10:54 am

    Yum, yum, yum!! I love anything with cheese on it. Im always looking for new things to serve. thanks!

    Reply
  11. DI says

    September 5, 2013 at 11:12 am

    Yum! Love the addition of spinach and love that it’s freezer friendly.

    Reply
  12. Sarah Bailey says

    September 5, 2013 at 11:25 am

    Oh that looks nice – I do love a bit of pasta from time to time 🙂 x

    Reply
  13. Akhil says

    September 5, 2013 at 11:36 am

    I love pasta..yummy!! A perfect recipe for everyone to change their taste 🙂

    Reply
  14. Anita Breeze says

    September 5, 2013 at 11:53 am

    Oh ya, my kids love anything with pasta, I will try these stuffed shells out, and find a low carb way to eat this as well!

    Reply
  15. Rosey says

    September 5, 2013 at 11:54 am

    Oh how I could come dig right in for dinner tonight!! These look lovely.

    Reply
  16. Pam@IW says

    September 5, 2013 at 1:01 pm

    I think these look delicious and seem like something my family would eat. I am going to make them as soon as it cools down outside also. We have had over 100 degree days here for awhile and I have been doing most of my cooking on the grill.

    Reply
  17. Corinne says

    September 5, 2013 at 1:23 pm

    These look delicious. What a great recipe for when you are cooking for a friend in need since it makes enough to feed their family and yours! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  18. Melinda Dunne says

    September 5, 2013 at 3:01 pm

    I make a similar recipe but haven’t tried it with cream cheese. I bet that really kicks things up a notch. I am going to pin this for later. I can’t wait to try your recipe.

    Reply
  19. Growing Up Madison says

    September 5, 2013 at 4:30 pm

    OMG I have to make this. We love making stuffed shells. I’m am so going to pin this so I don’t forget.

    Reply
  20. Alice says

    September 5, 2013 at 4:57 pm

    This sounds so good!

    Reply
  21. Dreamingofthebeach says

    September 5, 2013 at 5:12 pm

    I am going to pin this too!!!

    Reply
  22. Ann@IW says

    September 5, 2013 at 5:12 pm

    FIVE kinds of cheese! Looks like a great option for when I make some freeze-ahead, bake-later dishes for my son and his roommate! The pictures are soooo appetizing!

    Reply
  23. Pam Burbey says

    September 5, 2013 at 5:24 pm

    Patty, that looks wonderful. I love stuffed shells and want to give your recipe a try..looks easy and delish!

    Reply
  24. Anya@IW says

    September 5, 2013 at 5:38 pm

    Yummy, Patty! Somehow I imagine serving this with football on TV and fall in the air. I love your recipes – they are always easy to follow (even for a non-chef like me) and appeal to most everyone. Thanks for sharing again.

    Reply
  25. Melanie says

    September 5, 2013 at 6:08 pm

    Wonderful recipe! I love stuffed shells, this is an easy one too. Must pin this right away!

    Reply
  26. Michelle H says

    September 5, 2013 at 7:16 pm

    These look so amazing! I wish I had time to make stuffed pasta these days!

    Reply
  27. Robyn says

    September 5, 2013 at 7:51 pm

    My daughter loves pasta, so I will try these.

    Reply
  28. Courtney Pies says

    September 5, 2013 at 8:33 pm

    This looks delicious! This would definitely be a big hit in my family, as we love any kind of Italian/pasta dish!

    Reply
  29. JennieIW says

    September 5, 2013 at 9:02 pm

    These look delicious! Will have try soon.

    Reply
  30. Victoria Howe says

    September 6, 2013 at 12:57 am

    This is going in my to-do family meal list! Sounds delicious xx

    Reply
  31. amanda says

    September 6, 2013 at 4:24 am

    yummy. yummy. yummy. i think i’m going to go buy some spinach

    Reply
  32. Healy Harpster says

    September 6, 2013 at 6:00 am

    Yum! That really makes me hungry. Thanks for the recipe, will surely try this.

    Reply
  33. maria @close to home says

    September 6, 2013 at 8:33 am

    love these I have not made stuffed shells forever, you can probably freeze them for quick meals too. Love for you to share them on friday food frenzy today http://www.stayingclosetohome.com/showcase-food-recipes-friday-food-frenzy-96.html

    Reply
  34. Amy Boyington says

    September 6, 2013 at 8:40 am

    Stuffed shells are a favorite of my family’s, and this recipe sounds delicious!

    Reply
  35. Shauna says

    September 6, 2013 at 8:41 am

    wow, these look very easy to make and very ‘freezable’ thank you

    Reply
  36. Pam@IW says

    September 6, 2013 at 8:41 am

    Maria,

    Thanks for the invite…I did go over and share.

    Reply
  37. samantha says

    September 6, 2013 at 10:03 am

    Looks Yummy
    always up for trying something new

    Reply
  38. Erica Ardali says

    September 6, 2013 at 10:11 am

    This sounds deelish!

    Reply
  39. Karen says

    September 6, 2013 at 10:58 am

    These look so yummy and simple to make too

    Reply
  40. Aida Ingram says

    September 6, 2013 at 8:25 pm

    I love this recipe. It looks not only nutritious it also seemed like a really easy recipe to make. Plus, anything with cheese is great!

    Reply
  41. Rachel Harris says

    September 10, 2013 at 8:42 am

    Looks SO good! We just made a stuffed shell recipe but it had mushrooms and a few other things I didn’t like, so I left them out, and while it was good, it was lacking. It needed a little something extra. This looks PERFECT. Thanks <3

    Reply
  42. Brooke B. says

    September 10, 2013 at 4:10 pm

    These look amazing! They sound like the perfect comfort dish to come home to on a chilly fall evening. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  43. ShannonR says

    September 10, 2013 at 7:50 pm

    This looks sooo good and doesnt look too hard. I have all the ingredients accept the cottage cheese, so this is what I am going to make tomorrow night for dinner. Cant wait.

    Reply
  44. Mer says

    September 11, 2013 at 1:07 pm

    This looks delicious! And while it make make a bit too much for us, it’s good to know that it’s freezable. Having extras all assembled in the freezer would be so helpful for those busy nights.

    Reply
  45. manekeniko says

    September 12, 2013 at 5:56 am

    Looks nice enough to serve at a party. Can I come to dinner?

    Reply
  46. Lily@IW says

    September 12, 2013 at 8:05 am

    Oh yum! I love this recipe. You make it look easy. I can’t wait to try it. I’m picking up the shells next time I go to the grocery store.

    Reply
  47. Karen D says

    September 14, 2013 at 10:54 am

    Sounds delicious! And I like the idea of cook once, serve twice!

    Reply
  48. Ann@iw says

    September 16, 2013 at 5:19 pm

    Ack! I have everything to make this…actually, I planned to double it to give to my son, too. But, someone bought every single box of jumbo shells from my usual store. :(. I will have to wait a few more days. 🙁

    Reply
  49. Shar says

    October 1, 2013 at 5:24 pm

    This recipe caught my eye. I haven’t made stuffed shells for a long time & I am so glad I saw this. Now that the weather is getting cooler I have gotta’ make this again.

    Reply
  50. judy gardner says

    October 27, 2013 at 2:06 pm

    this sounds and looks so good! i have never made stuffed shells with cheddar but it sounds good.

    Reply
  51. CJWhodunit says

    November 1, 2013 at 7:55 am

    Awesome! I’d like to see you write a cookbook someday too, Pie! 🙂

    Reply
  52. Holly Uhler says

    November 4, 2013 at 4:48 pm

    these look really good. such a bummer the fiance wont eat anything with ricotta in them.

    Reply
  53. Susan Broughton says

    November 5, 2013 at 1:35 am

    These look so good! I am going to have to pin this for next dinner we fix!

    Reply
  54. in the hammock says

    November 8, 2013 at 5:15 pm

    these look delicous! i’m always looking for new things to try!

    Reply
  55. Anita L says

    November 10, 2013 at 5:19 am

    Your recipe looks delicious! My hubby does not care for spinach, but I just may be able to sneak it in!! Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  56. Sylvia Zajis says

    November 24, 2013 at 6:23 am

    I haven’t made stuffed shells in probably about a year. I normally just stuff them with a cheese mixture but these sound sooo yummy. I will definitely be trying these this winter.

    Reply
  57. melissa cushing says

    December 7, 2013 at 12:53 pm

    Looks delicious!!! I have yet to find a recipe for Stuffed Shells that I love, but this one with Spinach looks amazing! I actually love spinach with anythign Italian…. I have had a veggie style lasagna before that was incredible!!! Thanks for the recipe and I will leave a post once I make this to tell you all about it!

    Reply
  58. marylou sakosky says

    December 7, 2013 at 7:07 pm

    Glad I looked in recipes. love it .and pinned it too gave site url for recipe thanks for sharing . 😉

    Reply
  59. Heather Pontruff says

    December 16, 2013 at 1:10 pm

    I’ve done this recipe over and over again; one of my fiance’s favorites. Have you tried switching out the ground beef for andouille? It’s 10 times better

    Reply
  60. PattyPie says

    December 16, 2013 at 5:17 pm

    Sounds like a great substitution Heather! Do you used andouille and the Italian sausage or just straight andouille?
    The best recipes are ones you make your own! 😉

    Reply
  61. lisa says

    December 21, 2013 at 11:40 am

    That sounds really good. I can eat pasta anytime. It’s one of those meals where you can add pretty much whatever you like without messing it up.

    Reply
  62. Gale McCarron says

    December 21, 2013 at 9:31 pm

    Loving this recipe! Never tried it with the spinach. I may just make these for the holiday. My kids love pasta dishes. Thank you!

    Reply
  63. rebeccabasset says

    December 30, 2013 at 5:03 pm

    Ooohh this sounds delicious, made me hungry. I will save this Recipe and make it for Dinner.

    Thanks for the Post, Picture, and the Recipe, YUMMY!

    Reply
  64. lisa says

    January 7, 2014 at 9:03 am

    Thanks. I loved stuffed shells. You can pretty much add whatever you like with pasta.

    Reply
  65. Shannon says

    January 13, 2014 at 7:17 pm

    Sounds like an easy dinner. I would make it with either Boca/Morningstar Crumbles or ground seitan…But I am a vegetarian and to quote Jules “my girlfriend’s a vegetarian, which, pretty much makes me a vegetarian.” LOL…my husband loves that line. He loves me so he has given up a lot of things for me including veal, goat, sheep and lamb.

    Reply
  66. Shells & Cheese side effects says

    April 25, 2014 at 4:32 pm

    Holy crap, thanks very much for posting this! It is going to aid me when I order Shells & Cheese at the grocery store! Very Marvelous!

    Reply
  67. Shannon says

    August 7, 2014 at 5:08 am

    This looks really delicious. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe with us.

    Reply
  68. Barrie says

    January 3, 2018 at 2:24 pm

    This is exactly what I need. I’m having outpatient surgery next week and need meals that can be put in the oven that I can make ahead!

    Reply
  69. Marisela Zuniga says

    January 6, 2018 at 12:02 pm

    Wow, this looks really good! I need to try this recipe out soon, I know my family would love it too

    Reply
  70. kate g says

    September 12, 2018 at 7:10 pm

    Now that is a pasta I could love. I’m a big cheese fan and who doesn’t like pasta? I read an article today from a reliable news magazine that said people who ate cheese and butter every day live longer. In ten years they may prove that false, but I’m going to choose to believe it and be sure to have garlic bread (with butter) when I serve this pasta.

    Reply
  71. Lynne B says

    September 13, 2018 at 11:00 am

    I’ve had stuffed shells in restaurants. I’ve never tried to make them at home. I love all that cheese!

    Reply
  72. Karen Propes says

    September 13, 2018 at 1:58 pm

    These 5 Cheese Stuffed Pasta Shells look delicious. I know this will become one of our go to’s for dinner. I can’t wait to get everything and start cooking. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Reply
  73. Tamra Phelps says

    October 22, 2018 at 4:18 pm

    I love pasta and cheese stuffed pasta shells are among my favorites. This looks absolutely delicious.

    Reply
  74. Konstantina says

    December 17, 2018 at 1:21 pm

    I really like cheese. This recipe must be so delicious!!! I can’t wait to try and recreate it.

    Reply

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