Ricotta stuffed shells are layered with a flavorful, homemade tomato sauce studded with Italian sausage. This is true comfort food.
Skillet stuffed shells are a simple and delicious weeknight dinner recipe. A simple red sauce is made with sweet Italian sausage, tomato paste, and more. Al dente jumbo shells are filled with a cheesy ricotta mixture and layered on top of the sauce. Sprinkled with freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped Italian parsley, this dinner recipe is a must-make when you are craving the ultimate comfort food!
There are just some types of food out there that I crave on a regular basis. 
One dish that has made a serious impression in my life as an adult is the red sausage sauce I’m sharing with you today in this skillet stuffed shells recipe. A couple of years ago I was going pantry diving looking for ANY ingredient to make a quick dinner with. I’m kind of a pantry hoarder. Seriously if you were to go into my basement, you would find literally 50 cans of tomato paste. I go a little crazy when the stuff is on sale. I always have chicken broth on hand and loose sweet Italian sausage is a freezer staple for us. I whipped together a quick red sauce using the sausage and I never looked back.
I make this sauce probably once a week, and usually it’s just served over ziti or something similar. Once in a while, though, when I feel like taking 15 minutes more to make dinner, I make stuffed shells. Stuffed shells are one of those dishes that I’m sure many of you guys grew up on. I know that I had them quite a bit growing up in central NJ. If you are Italian-American living in NJ, you know all about stuffed shells and baked ziti. Anyway, they are seriously fabulous in this sauce, and have become one of our recent obsessions.
This recipe is my ultimate comfort food, and I hope you guys find some deep connection to it as well. Pair it with an amber ale. An amber will really cut through the acidity. Enjoy!
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Stuffed Shells in Tomato and Sausage Sauce
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4-6 1x
- Diet: Omnivore
Description
Jumbo pasta shells brimming with ricotta and herbs, nestled in a rich tomato sauce with Italian sausage. Comfort food at its best!
Ingredients
- 12-14 jumbo shells
- 1 lbs (454 g) loose sweet Italian sausage
- 1 small yellow onion (chopped finely)
- 3 cloves of garlic (finely minced)
- 1/3 cups (80 ml) tomato paste
- 1 1/2 cups (355 ml) chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- pinch of chili powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- salt and black pepper
- 1 cups (237 ml) ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) + 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon fresh oregano (chopped)
- 1 large egg white
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the shells for 8-9 minutes, or until almost al dente but still firm. Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
- While the shells are boiling, prepare your sauce. In a large nonstick skillet, add the sausage and cook over medium heat until brown and almost cooked through. Add the onion and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook for about 2 minutes, or until it deepens in color. Stir in the chicken broth, 1/2 cup at a time, until you reach your desired consistency (1-2 cups). Bring to a simmer and add Italian seasoning, chili powder, granulated sugar, salt, and black pepper to taste.
- Reduce the heat to low and cook for 5-6 minutes more. Adjust seasoning to taste and keep over low heat until ready to serve.
- In a small bowl, stir together the ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, oregano, egg white, and a dash of salt and pepper.
- Spoon the cheese mixture into the shells and place the shells directly in the pan with the sauce. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese on top and cover.
- Cook until the cheese has melted, then remove from heat.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and additional parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- For easier stuffing, use a piping bag or large zip-top bag with a corner snipped off to fill the shells.
- To prevent the shells from breaking, cook them only until al dente; they will finish cooking in the sauce.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 20
- Cholesterol: 100
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of sausage should I use for the sauce?
You should use sweet Italian sausage for the sauce to achieve the best flavor.
How do I prevent the ricotta mixture from being too runny when filling the shells?
Make sure to use a well-drained ricotta cheese and mix it with grated parmesan to help firm up the filling.
Can I use a different type of pasta instead of jumbo shells?
While jumbo shells are ideal for stuffing, you could use other pasta shapes like manicotti or even ziti, but the cooking time may vary.
