Stuffed Shells Florentine W/Ground Beef

These Stuffed Shells Florentine offer a comforting twist on classic Italian-American comfort food. Large pasta shells are generously filled with a creamy mixture of cottage cheese, mozzarella, and thawed spinach, then nestled into a rich, savory ground beef and tomato sauce. The result is a dish that balances the earthiness of spinach with the tang of tomatoes and the richness of cheese. It&# 226;ÂÂs a hearty, protein-packed meal perfect for weeknight dinners or family gatherings. The baking process melds the flavors together, creating a bubbly, golden-topped casserole that is both satisfying and easy to prepare. Serve with a simple green salad for a complete, home-style feast that everyone will love.

Cooking Method: Baking

Cuisine: Italian

Courses: Main Courses

Difficulty: Intermediate

Servings: 4

Calories: 155.9

Description

These Stuffed Shells Florentine offer a comforting twist on classic Italian-American comfort food. Large pasta shells are generously filled with a creamy mixture of cottage cheese, mozzarella, and thawed spinach, then nestled into a rich, savory ground beef and tomato sauce. The result is a dish that balances the earthiness of spinach with the tang of tomatoes and the richness of cheese. It&# 226;ÂÂs a hearty, protein-packed meal perfect for weeknight dinners or family gatherings. The baking process melds the flavors together, creating a bubbly, golden-topped casserole that is both satisfying and easy to prepare. Serve with a simple green salad for a complete, home-style feast that everyone will love.

Ingredients

1/2 pound Lean ground beef
1 (1 1/2 oz.) package spaghetti

Directions

1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2
Grease or spray an 8-inch square baking dish.
3
Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat; drain excess fat.
4
In a saucepan, mix tomato paste, water, and beef seasoning according to package directions to create the sauce.
5
Stir the cooked ground beef into the tomato sauce mixture.
6
Spread half of the beef sauce mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
7
In a medium bowl, combine thawed and squeezed dry spinach, cottage cheese, and shredded mozzarella cheese until well blended.
8
Cook pasta shells according to package directions until tender; drain well.
9
Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the spinach-cheese mixture into each cooked shell.
10
Arrange the stuffed shells in the baking dish on top of the sauce.
11
Spoon the remaining beef sauce evenly over the stuffed shells.
12
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes, or until bubbly and heated through.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4

Amount Per Serving
Calories 155.9kcal

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 6.0g10%
Saturated Fat 2.3g12%
Cholesterol 43.1mg15%
Sodium 41.1mg2%
Total Carbohydrate 6.2g3%
Dietary Fiber 0.5g2%
Sugars 0.1g
Protein 17.1g35%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

If you do not have frozen chopped spinach, you can use fresh spinach; wilt it in a pan and squeeze out all excess moisture before mixing with the cheese.

For a lighter version, you can substitute the ground beef with lentils or mushrooms for a vegetarian option.

If you prefer a richer sauce, you can add a splash of heavy cream or extra mozzarella on top before baking.

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven.

Keywords: stuffed shells, florentine, ground beef, spinach, cottage cheese, mozzarella, italian dinner, baked pasta, comfort food, family meal, vegetarian option, easy dinner, pasta casserole, tomato sauce, cheese filling

Read it online: https://www.chefs-mate.com/recipe/stuffed-shells-florentine-w-ground-beef/