Cheese & Sausage Stuffed Shells

Name: Cheese & Sausage Stuffed Shells
Prep time: 55 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Yield: 10 servings.
Cuisine: Comfort Food Dinner Recipes, Comfort Food Recipes, Italian Dinners, Italian Recipes
Ingredients: 30 uncooked jumbo pasta shells; 1 pound bulk Italian sausage; 1 large onion, chopped; 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened; 1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry; 1 large egg, beaten; 3 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided; 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese; 1 cup 2% cottage cheese; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; SAUCE:; 3 cans (15 ounces each) tomato sauce; 4 teaspoons dried minced onion; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 2 teaspoons dried basil; 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes; 1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano; 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper

I like to make this meal for special occasions, and everyone who has tried these stuffed shells has left satisfied. I suggest making a double batch and freezing one for future dinners. —Tiffany Carlson, Colfax, North Dakota

Ingredients

30 uncooked jumbo pasta shells
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 large onion, chopped
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 large egg, beaten
3 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup 2% cottage cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
SAUCE:
3 cans (15 ounces each) tomato sauce
4 teaspoons dried minced onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Cook pasta shells according to package directions for al dente; drain and rinse with cold water. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook sausage and onion over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink, breaking up sausage into crumbles; drain and return to pan. Add cream cheese; cook and stir until melted.
Transfer to a large bowl; cool slightly. Stir in spinach and egg. Add 1 cup mozzarella, cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper; mix well. In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients. Spread 1-1/3 cups sauce onto bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking dish and 2/3 cup sauce over the bottom of a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Fill pasta shells with sausage mixture; arrange over sauce. Top with remaining sauce.
Bake, covered, 45 minutes or until pasta is tender. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Originally published as Cheese Stuffed Shells in Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook 2016