Some nights, I love making dinner from scratch. Other nights, I want the grocery store to do half the work for me. 😂
These Easy Baked Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce start with premade frozen cheese-stuffed shells, so there’s no boiling pasta, mixing ricotta filling, or individually stuffing shells.
I found the Priano Stuffed Shells at ALDI and knew they would be perfect for an easy dinner. I added a simple ground beef marinara sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan and baked everything together until hot and cheesy.
It tastes like a cozy baked pasta dinner without nearly as much work.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This is exactly the kind of shortcut dinner I love because you’re still putting a homemade meal on the table—you’re just letting one ingredient save you a bunch of time.
You’ll love this one because it’s:
- Easy to throw together
- Made with just a handful of ingredients
- No stuffing individual pasta shells
- No boiling pasta first
- Family-friendly
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to customize
- Perfect for a busy weeknight
And using a little ground beef in the sauce makes the premade shells feel like a completely different dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 package (20 oz) frozen cheese-stuffed shells
- ½ lb ground beef
- ½ small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, optional
How to Make Easy Baked Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce
1. Prepare the Meat Sauce
Preheat your oven according to the stuffed shells package directions.
Add ½ pound ground beef and ½ diced yellow onion to a skillet over medium-high heat.
Cook for about 5–7 minutes, breaking the beef into crumbles, until the beef is browned and the onion has softened.
Drain excess grease if necessary.
2. Add the Garlic
Add 2 minced garlic cloves to the skillet and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
3. Add the Marinara
Pour 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce into the skillet.
Add ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Stir everything together and let the sauce warm for a few minutes.
4. Assemble the Stuffed Shells
Spread a thin layer of the prepared meat sauce over the bottom of a baking dish.
Arrange 1 package (20 oz) frozen cheese-stuffed shells over the sauce according to the package directions.
Spoon the remaining meat sauce over and around the stuffed shells.
5. Add the Cheese
Sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
6. Bake
Cover and bake the stuffed shells according to the time and temperature listed on your package.
Because we’re adding meat sauce and extra cheese, check that the center of the shells is completely heated through before serving. If necessary, give them a little additional baking time.
7. Serve
Let the baked stuffed shells rest for about 5 minutes after removing them from the oven.
Sprinkle with fresh parsley if you’d like, then serve!
The Shortcut That Makes This So Easy
The secret here is starting with frozen stuffed shells that already have the cheese filling inside.
That means you can skip several steps that usually come with homemade stuffed shells:
No boiling and cooling jumbo shells.
No mixing ricotta filling.
And most importantly, no standing at the counter trying to stuff cheese into slippery pasta shells. 😂
You basically make a quick meat sauce, assemble everything, and let the oven do the rest.
Do I Have to Use Priano Stuffed Shells?
No.
That’s what I used because I found them at ALDI, but you can make this recipe with another brand of frozen cheese-stuffed shells.
Because package sizes and cooking directions can vary, use the baking temperature and time listed on the package you purchase.
Do I Have to Add Ground Beef?
Not at all.
The shells already have cheese filling, so you can skip the ground beef and simply bake them with marinara, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
But I like adding ½ pound of ground beef because it makes the dinner a little heartier without requiring a full pound of meat.
Can I Use a Full Pound of Ground Beef?
Absolutely.
If you have a larger family, want a meatier sauce, or already have a full pound that needs to be used, go ahead and add it.
You may want a little additional marinara if your sauce becomes too meat-heavy.
Easy Ways to Make It Your Own
This is one of those recipes where you really don’t have to measure every little thing perfectly.
You can:
- Use ground Italian sausage instead of beef
- Leave the meat out completely
- Add spinach to the sauce
- Use whatever marinara you already have
- Add extra mozzarella
- Sprinkle red pepper flakes over adult portions
- Add chopped bell pepper or mushrooms to the meat sauce
Use what you have before buying something new.
Budget-Friendly Tips
One of the easiest ways to make budget-friendly dinners sustainable is realizing that not everything has to be homemade.
Sometimes an inexpensive convenience food can actually help you avoid ordering takeout on a busy night.
We’re also stretching just ½ pound of ground beef by combining it with the cheese-filled shells and marinara.
If you have another half pound of ground beef left, freeze it or use it in another dinner later in the week.
Store-brand marinara and shredded cheese work perfectly here, too.
What to Serve with Baked Stuffed Shells
This is already a pretty filling dinner, so I wouldn’t overcomplicate the sides.
Try serving it with:
- Green beans
- Steamed broccoli
- Side salad
- Garlic bread
- Roasted vegetables
- Peas
Honestly, a bag of frozen vegetables alongside it is plenty for a busy weeknight.
How to Store Leftovers
Store leftover stuffed shells in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave until completely heated through.
You can also cover the baking dish and reheat leftovers in the oven.
Easy Baked Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce
Description
These easy baked stuffed shells start with frozen cheese-stuffed shells and are topped with homemade meat sauce and cheese for a simple budget-friendly family dinner.
Ingredients
Instructions
-
Preheat oven according to the 20 oz frozen stuffed shells package directions.
-
Brown ½ lb ground beef with ½ diced yellow onion over medium-high heat for 5–7 minutes. Drain excess grease if needed.
-
Add 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for 30 seconds.
-
Stir in 1 (24 oz) jar marinara and ½ tsp Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
-
Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in a baking dish. Arrange 20 oz frozen cheese-stuffed shells according to package directions and cover with the remaining meat sauce.
-
Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella and ¼ cup Parmesan.
-
Cover and bake according to the stuffed shells package directions, adding additional time if necessary until the centers are thoroughly heated.
-
Rest for 5 minutes before serving. Top with parsley if desired.
Note
Budget-Friendly Tips
One of the easiest ways to make budget-friendly dinners sustainable is realizing that not everything has to be homemade.
Sometimes an inexpensive convenience food can actually help you avoid ordering takeout on a busy night.
We're also stretching just ½ pound of ground beef by combining it with the cheese-filled shells and marinara.
If you have another half pound of ground beef left, freeze it or use it in another dinner later in the week.
Store-brand marinara and shredded cheese work perfectly here, too.
