Your favorite meat and tomato sauce with gluten free stuffed shells with a creamy dairy free ricotta filling.
Prep Time30 minutesmins
Cook Time25 minutesmins
Total Time55 minutesmins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 6servings
Calories: 352kcal
Author: Eating Gluten and Dairy Free
Ingredients
4ouncesgluten free grand shells, roughly half an 8 ox bozsuggestion in post
½poundground beefor use 1 lb ground beef and omit the sausage
½poundItalian Sausage
½onion, diced
24ouncesmarinara or favorite pasta sauceif using marinara add 1 Tablespoon brown sugar to recipe
1 teaspoongarlic powder
1teaspoonItalian seasoning
salt and pepperto taste
fresh basil garnish
Ricotta mixture
8ouncesdairy free ricottasuggestion in post
1eggbeaten
1cup fresh shredded spinachheaping cup
¼+cupshredded dairy free mozzarella cheese, set aside extra to sprinkle over shells at the endoptional, suggestion in post
1teaspoondried oregano
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Prepare grand shell noodles according to box instructions. Drain, rinse well with cold water, and set aside. Side note- watch the noodles carefully. They can quickly become too tender and fall apart.
Saute onion in 1 tablespoon oil in large skillet over medium heat.
Once translucent add in ground beef and sausage. Work to break up the meat into small pieces. Cook until heated through. Remove excess fat and oil.
Add marinara sauce, brown sugar, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste. Stir well.
In a medium bowl add egg, ricotta, shredded mozzarella, oregano, shredded spinach. Mix well.
Place generous helping of marinara meat sauce on bottom of baking dish or cast iron pan. Place sauce evenly on dish. You will use most of the sauce. Leave just enough for placing a spoonful on each shell when filled (about a cup).
Take jumbo shells one at a time and fill with ricotta mixture. Place in baking dish on sauce.
Once baking dish is full, place additional marinara sauce on top of each shell. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella.
Place in oven for 20-25 minutes.
Remove from heat. For garnish cut fresh basil for topping.
Notes
Watch the noodles carefully. They can quickly become too tender and fall apart.
Feel free to add other dairy free cheeses like parmesan cheese or romano cheese to the sauce or cheese mixture.
Add some heat to this dish by adding some red pepper flakes to the sauce or cheese mixture.
If you just need this to be gluten free, and you're okay with dairy ingredients, this can be made with dairy containing equivalent ingredients.