Get ready to fall in love with the ultimate comfort food: Sausage Stuffed Shells. This dish is a guaranteed family favorite, layering perfectly cooked jumbo pasta shells with a rich, savory Italian sausage and ricotta filling, all smothered in marinara sauce and baked under a blanket of bubbly, golden mozzarella cheese. It’s the kind of meal that makes any weeknight feel special and is impressive enough to serve to guests.
Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or just starting, this recipe is straightforward and incredibly rewarding. We’ll walk you through every step to ensure your stuffed shells are absolutely perfect.
Getting the shells ready for their cheesy blanket and hot oven.
Why You’ll Love This Sausage Stuffed Shells Recipe
Incredibly Flavorful: The combination of spicy or sweet Italian sausage, creamy cheeses, and classic Italian herbs creates a depth of flavor that is simply irresistible.
Perfect for Any Occasion: It’s a hearty and satisfying weeknight dinner, but it also shines as a main course for potlucks, family gatherings, or holiday meals.
Make-Ahead Friendly: This casserole is a dream for meal preppers. You can assemble it ahead of time and bake it right before serving, making your life so much easier.
Freezer-Friendly: Double the batch and freeze one for a future meal. It’s a fantastic way to have a delicious, home-cooked dinner on a busy night. For another great freezer meal, try this classic American goulash recipe.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients to create a truly spectacular dish. Here’s what you’ll need to gather.
For the Shells & Sauce:
Jumbo Pasta Shells: You’ll need one (12-ounce) box. Cook them just until al dente, as they will continue to cook in the oven.
Marinara Sauce: A good quality store-bought marinara sauce works perfectly to save time. Feel free to use your favorite homemade version if you prefer.
For the Cheesy Sausage Filling:
Italian Sausage: One pound of ground Italian sausage is the star. You can use hot, mild, or sweet, depending on your preference.
Ricotta Cheese: Whole milk ricotta will give you the creamiest, most luxurious filling.
Mozzarella Cheese: Freshly shredded mozzarella cheese melts best. You’ll use some in the filling and plenty on top.
Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan adds a sharp, nutty flavor that cuts through the richness.
Egg: One large egg acts as a binder, helping the filling hold its shape.
Garlic & Onion: These aromatics build the foundation of the filling’s flavor.
Fresh Parsley: Adds a touch of fresh, bright flavor to the cheesy filling.
Seasoning: A simple mix of dried oregano, salt, and black pepper is all you need.
Look at that cheesy, savory filling!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create the perfect pan of cheesy, saucy Sausage Stuffed Shells.
Step 1: Cook the Shells
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the jumbo shells and cook according to package directions until al dente. Be careful not to overcook them, or they will be too soft to stuff. Drain the shells and rinse with cool water to stop the cooking process. Set them aside.
Step 2: Brown the Sausage
While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until it’s browned and cooked through. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, and cook for another 2-3 minutes until softened and fragrant. Drain off any excess grease from the skillet.
Step 3: Make the Ricotta Filling
In a large bowl, combine the cooked sausage mixture, ricotta cheese, 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan cheese, the egg, fresh parsley, and seasonings. Stir everything together until it’s well combined. This savory mixture is the heart of your Sausage Stuffed Shells.
Step 4: Assemble the Stuffed Shells
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread a layer of marinara sauce (about 1.5 cups) evenly over the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Using a small spoon, carefully fill each cooked pasta shell with a generous amount of the sausage and cheese mixture. Arrange the filled shells in a single layer in the baking dish, nestled on top of the sauce.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the stuffed shells. Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
Tips for the Best Stuffed Shells
Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Cooking the shells just to al dente is key. They will absorb liquid from the sauce and finish cooking in the oven.
Shred Your Own Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting smoothly. For the best cheese pull, buy a block and shred it yourself.
Use a Piping Bag: For faster and cleaner stuffing, you can transfer the filling to a large piping bag (or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off) and pipe the filling into each shell. Looking for another cheesy pasta dish? This Cajun Chicken Mac and Cheese is a must-try.
Delicious Variations to Try
While this Sausage Stuffed Shells recipe is fantastic as is, it’s also easy to customize!
Try Different Meats: You can easily substitute the Italian sausage with ground beef, ground turkey, or even shredded chicken. For a unique twist, consider making this slow cooker marry me chicken and using the shredded meat.
Spice It Up: If you love heat, use hot Italian sausage and add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the marinara sauce for an extra kick.
Make-Ahead and Freezing Instructions
This is one of the best features of this Sausage Stuffed Shells recipe—it’s perfect for planning ahead.
How to Make Ahead
You can assemble the entire dish up to 24 hours in advance. Prepare as directed, but do not bake. Cover the dish tightly with foil and refrigerate. When you’re ready to bake, you may need to add about 10-15 minutes to the initial covered baking time.
How to Freeze and Reheat
Assemble the dish in a freezer-safe baking dish. Cover it tightly with a layer of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. To bake, you can either thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and bake as directed (adding extra time as needed) or bake it straight from frozen. To bake from frozen, cover and bake at 375°F for 50-60 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 15-20 minutes until hot and bubbly.
What to Serve with Sausage Stuffed Shells
This dish is a hearty meal on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with a few simple sides. A crisp green salad with a simple vinaigrette, some garlic bread for soaking up the extra sauce, or a side of steamed green beans are all excellent choices.
Ground Italian sausage is the best choice. You can use mild, sweet, or hot varieties depending on your personal preference. Hot Italian sausage will add a nice kick of spice to the dish.
Yes, absolutely! You can assemble the entire dish, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. You may need to add 10-15 minutes to the baking time when cooking from chilled.
Assemble the shells in a freezer-safe baking dish. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. You can bake from frozen or thaw overnight in the fridge before baking.
While ricotta provides the classic creamy texture, you could substitute it with cottage cheese (blended for a smoother texture) or a mixture of cream cheese and mascarpone for a similar rich result.
The key is to cook the shells just until al dente, so they are firm enough to handle but pliable. Rinsing them with cool water after draining stops the cooking process and makes them easier to work with. Stuff them gently using a small spoon.
More Delicious Dinner Recipes
If you loved this recipe, you’re sure to enjoy some of our other family-favorite dinners! From cozy soups to easy casseroles, there’s always something new to try.
We hope you love this Sausage Stuffed Shells recipe as much as we do! It’s a true labor of love that is worth every minute. If you make it, please leave a comment below and let us know how it turned out. Don’t forget to share your creations with us on Pinterest!
The ultimate comfort food: Sausage Stuffed Shells!
Sausage Stuffed Shells Recipe
FL Recipes
Sausage Stuffed Shells (The Ultimate Comfort Food Recipe)
This Sausage Stuffed Shells recipe features jumbo pasta shells filled with a savory blend of Italian sausage, ricotta, and mozzarella, baked in marinara sauce. An easy, cheesy, and satisfying meal.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook jumbo shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the Italian sausage, onion, and garlic until the sausage is browned. Drain any excess grease.
In a large bowl, combine the cooked sausage mixture, ricotta cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
Spread 1.5 cups of marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Fill each cooked shell with the sausage and cheese mixture and arrange them in the baking dish.
Top the shells with the remaining marinara sauce and sprinkle with the remaining 2 cups of mozzarella cheese.
Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is golden.
Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 550kcalProtein: 32gFat: 30gFiber: 4g
Notes
Make-Ahead Tip: Assemble the dish up to 24 hours in advance, cover, and refrigerate. Add 10-15 minutes to the covered baking time. Freezer Tip: Assemble in a freezer-safe dish and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding significant time, or thaw overnight first.
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
