Sausage-Stuffed Italian Pasta Shells

Experience the rich flavors of Italian cuisine with these exquisite jumbo pasta shells stuffed with savory Italian sausage and decadent shredded mozzarella cheese. Finished off with a delectable marinara sauce and an additional layer of cheese, baked to perfection until golden and bubbly.

Ingredients

1	(16 ounce) package jumbo pasta shells
3	teaspoons vegetable oil, divided
1	pound bulk Italian sausage
1	(16 ounce) package finely shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1	teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, plus more for garnish if desired
1	(24 ounce) jar prepared marinara sauce

Instructions

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and lightly oil a 9x13 baking dish.
  2. In a large pot, bring lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta shells until al dente, about 10 to 12 minutes. Drain and place on a rimmed baking sheet to cool, lightly coated with oil.
  3. In a heavy skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Cook the Italian sausage until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Remove from heat, drain excess grease, and mix in half of the shredded mozzarella cheese and the Italian seasoning.
  4. Fill each pasta shell with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the sausage mixture. Arrange the stuffed shells in the prepared baking dish.
  5. Evenly pour marinara sauce over the shells and top with the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
  6. Bake in the preheated oven until heated through and bubbly, approximately 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the top is golden brown. Sprinkle with a pinch of Italian seasoning for garnish, if desired.

Jul 18, 2024