Northern Italian Pasta Shell Stuffing

Recipe courtesy Barbara Platoni

Show: Paula's Home CookingEpisode: Paula's Take on Italian Food

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (381)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(381)

Cook Time:
1 hr 25 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
6 to 8 servings

Times:

Prep: 30 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 1 hr 25 min
Total:: 1 hr 55 min

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Ingredients

3 packages frozen, chopped spinach
3 pounds ground round
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
2 large onions, chopped
Grated Parmesan
Salt and pepper
2 jumbo eggs
1 (1-pound) package jumbo pasta shells
2 cups tomato sauce (your own or ready-made)

Directions

Place frozen spinach in a strainer and run under hot water until thawed. Squeeze all of the water out and place in a large bowl. In a large saute pan, cook the ground round until browned. Drain meat, reserving 2 tablespoons fat in the pan, and place meat in the same bowl with the spinach. Stir in the cream cheese until blended with the meat and spinach. Saute the chopped onions in the reserved meat fat until transparent. Transfer onions to the bowl with the other ingredients and stir to combine. Add grated cheese, salt, and pepper, to taste, and combine. Let mixture cool and then add the eggs. The filling can be made up to 1 day in advance and refrigerated until ready to use.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook pasta shells in boiling, salted water until al dente. Drain and cool to the touch. Stuff the shells with the meat mixture. Place shells in a large baking pan and cover with tomato sauce. Cover with foil and bake for approximately 1 hour. Serve.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Northern Italian Pasta Shell Stuffing
Valeri Bellefontaine, OH 09-05-2009
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ENTIRE family love it!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This recipe is sooo delicious. I love that it makes alot too. I make one pan and freeze another pan for later. Then we can... have it as a family or I can take one shell in my lunch or the kids will heat up a shell or 2 for after school, before/after practice, work, etc. Just pour a little sauce over and heat. I do agree that the amount of sauce called for isn't enough. I think most people will realize that when they put it in the pan. But it's still very good and a great way to get my family to eat spinach! Read more
recipe Northern Italian Pasta Shell Stuffing
Gail Metuchen, NJ 03-09-2009
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Made a ton
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

Tasted good. Two cups is not enough sauce.
recipe Northern Italian Pasta Shell Stuffing
jaimee Memphis, TN 03-06-2009
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My Go-To Recipe
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is my go-to recipe for just about any event! It is always a crowd pleaser and I have people begging for the recipe... after. I usually make it with half ground beef and half pork and I try to make the filling the day before. Making it earlier makes it easier for me to fill the pasta shells. I hope you try the recipe! You won't be disappointed!Read more
recipe Northern Italian Pasta Shell Stuffing
PENNY FOND DU LAC, WI 10-19-2008
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Awesome!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is a great recipe!! I too cut this recipe in half or share half with a friend. I add additional seasonings, use my own... marinara sauce and I add Mozz. cheese at the end. I like the Ricotta cheese in it too, I have made it with hamburger or ground pork, either way very good!!! Awesome recipe and a great way to get veggies into my family. Everyone loves it!! :)Read more
recipe Northern Italian Pasta Shell Stuffing
MOLLIE Beaverton, OR 03-24-2008
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Wow this makes ALOT of food!
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

When I saw Paula make this- I just had to try it. It turned out pretty good- though others are right to cut the filling by... half. I stuffed the shells as much as I could and still had half the filling left. (Gave it to my Mom and she made this too- both her and my Dad LOVED it!) I too agree with adding more seasoning to the meat and also adding more sauce. This makes good leftovers!Read more
recipe Northern Italian Pasta Shell Stuffing
steve pueblo, CO 02-25-2008
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mine
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

theses are very good my inlaws loved them but i forgot to put the spinich in them. but next time i made them with spinich and... they loved them more..steveRead more