Description
Sloppy joe stuffed shells combine hearty ground beef and zesty tomato sauce nestled in tender pasta shells for a mouthwatering meal. Comfort food meets culinary creativity, promising a delightful dinner that brings family and friends together around the table.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
Other Protein:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup ricotta or cream cheese (optional)
Primary Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- Smoked paprika, to taste
Pasta:
- 12 jumbo pasta shells
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta shells by submerging them in a generously salted boiling water bath, cooking them approximately 1-2 minutes less than package recommendations to ensure they maintain structural integrity for later baking.
- Activate a large skillet over medium-high heat and thoroughly brown the ground beef, breaking it into fine crumbles during the cooking process.
- Introduce diced onions, vibrant bell peppers, and minced garlic into the meat, sautéing until vegetables soften and release their aromatic essence.
- Incorporate tomato sauce, tangy ketchup, robust Worcestershire sauce, zesty mustard, rich brown sugar, and selected seasonings into the meat mixture.
- Allow the combined ingredients to simmer, reducing and thickening the sauce for approximately 5-7 minutes, which concentrates the flavor profile.
- Remove the skillet from heat and permit the Sloppy Joe mixture to cool momentarily while preparing the baking environment.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F, creating an ideal thermal landscape for the upcoming culinary creation.
- Fold shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses directly into the slightly cooled meat mixture, ensuring uniform distribution.
- Methodically fill each par-cooked pasta shell with a generous portion of the cheese-enhanced Sloppy Joe filling.
- Arrange the stuffed shells strategically within a prepared baking dish, creating a visually appealing and compact configuration.
- Garnish the assembled shells with an additional layer of shredded cheese for enhanced texture and flavor complexity.
- Encase the baking dish with aluminum foil and transfer to the preheated oven, baking for 20 minutes to meld flavors.
- Remove the foil covering and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes, allowing the cheese to transform into a golden, bubbling crust.
- Extract from the oven and allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes, enabling the filling to stabilize and flavors to harmonize before serving.
Notes
- Perfectly cook pasta shells al dente by reducing boiling time, ensuring they maintain a slight bite and won’t become mushy during baking.
- Drain shells immediately and spread on a baking sheet to prevent sticking, helping maintain their shape for easy stuffing.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease, creating a cleaner and healthier filling without compromising flavor.
- Customize the recipe for dietary needs by substituting ground beef with plant-based alternatives like crumbled tempeh or lentils for a vegetarian version.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg