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You are here: Home / Recipes / Pasta

Sausage Stuffed Shells with Tomato Cream Sauce

By Susie Weinrich ยท Date Sep 22, 2021ยท Leave a Comment ยท May contain affiliate links.

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Sausage Stuffed Shells with Tomato Cream Sauce is an excellent family dinner. Pasta shells are stuffed with a delicious mixture of sausage, beef, mozzarella and diced tomatoes. Then finished with a tomato cream sauce and more cheese. Plus, they can be made up to 2 days ahead!

sausage Stuffed shells in a 9x13 pan

If you need a delicious Vegetarian Option – Spinach & Ricotta Stuffed Shells are excellent, or these Sausage Lasagna Rolls Ups are great too (not vegetarian though)!

Why These Are The Best

  • The combo of beef and sausage in the shells is perfect.
  • Mozzarella cheese melts into the meat mixture and makes the filling creamy and delicious.
  • The shells can be prepped up to 2 days ahead!
  • This recipe is a crowd pleaser!
  • Makes an excellent Sunday Family Dinner recipe or Meal Train Dinner idea!

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients that you will use for this Sausage Stuffed Shells Recipe, plus some pro tips on a few ingredients.

ingredients to make meat stuffed shells

Pasta Shells

Pasta Shells can be a little delicate, they can tear very easily. That is why I always recommend boiling just a few more than you need.

This recipe will make 20-25 shells. I usually boil 28-30 shells just to make sure I have enough.

Shredded Cheese

As always, I recommend that you shred your cheese fresh. Buy a block of mozzarella and parmesan and grate it right before using.

Of course pre-shredded, bagged cheese will work but it is coated in preservatives and anti-clumping agents that prevent it from melting super creamy.

Step By Step Picture Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350ยฐ. Grab a 9×13 pan so it is ready to use. Boil salted water and cook your pasta shells.

Run the shells under cool water so they stop cooking and so they don’t stick together. Set aside.

Pro Tip: always boil a couple extra shells than you need. This accounts for any shells that tear or fall apart while boiling.

To save on dishes, melt a tablespoon of butter in the empty pasta cooking pot, over low – medium/low heat. Once melted stir in the flour.

Now whisk the heavy cream into the butter/flour. Bring to a very light simmer for about 1 minute. Pour in the marinara sauce. Stir to combine. Remove from the heat.

tomato cream sauce

Meanwhile, in a skillet soften the onions in 2 tablespoon oil. Add the garlic, sausage, and ground beef, crumble while cooking, until cooked through, about 10 minutes.

Pro Tip: use a meat chopper for easy work of crumbling the meat!!

Remove from the heat. Drain the excess grease. Stir in the drained tomatoes. Set aside to cool for a couple minutes.

Add 1 ยฝ cups shredded mozzarella to the meat mixture and stir. The mozzarella may melt a little, but that is ok.

ground beef and ground sausage mixed with diced tomatoes and mozzarella

Pour half the creamy marinara on the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Stuff the shells with the meat mixture and lay in the pan. You will have 20-25 shells.

  • a 9x13 pan with tomato cream sauce
  • stuffing pasta shells with meat

Pour the remaining creamy marinara over top. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 20 minutes.

Remove the foil and sprinkle on the remaining mozzarella and parmesan, bake another 10 minutes.

  • sprinkling cheese on stuffed shells
  • sausage stuffed shells baked in a 9x13 pan

Serving

Let the stuffed shells cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

Serve 3-4 stuffed shells per person. They go great with salad dressed with a tart vinaigrette, like Basil Vinaigrette, and some warm bread.

Storing

Store any leftovers, covered, in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Just reheat each portion in the microwave, 1 minute or so.

sausage stuffed shells on a plate with salad

How To Make Ahead

These can absolutely be made ahead. Just prep until the directions instruct to bake in the oven. Instead, cover with foil and pop in the fridge. Keep for up to 2 days.

Then bake straight from the fridge, covered, 350 degrees for 25 minutes, then remove the foil, top with cheese and bake another 10 minutes.

Other Pasta Recipes To Love

  • Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells cooked in a glass 9x13 dish topped with cheese and sauce
    Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells
  • a red dutch oven full of lasagna
    One Pot Dutch Oven Lasagna
  • lasagna skillet with a fork
    30 minute Easy Skillet Lasagna
  • Italian Meatballs in a Marinara Sauce
    Very Best Baked Italian Meatballs
  • Marinated Chicken Spiedini with Amogio
  • Easy Basil Pesto Pasta

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stuffed shells on a plate with salad

Sausage Stuffed Shells with Tomato Cream Sauce

Pasta shells stuffed with a delicious mixture of sausage, beef, mozzarella and diced tomatoes. Then finished with a tomato cream sauce and more cheese. This is an excellent family dinner.
Plus, instructions to make up to 2 days ahead!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Cooling: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Servings: 6 people
Author: Susie Weinrich

Equipment

  • 9×13 baking dish
  • foil

Ingredients

  • 25 large pasta shells
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium sized yellow onion - diced
  • 2 garlic cloves - minced
  • ยฝ lb ground Italian Sausage
  • ยฝ lb ground beef
  • 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes - drained
  • 8 oz block of mozzarella cheese - shredded, divided
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 24 oz marinara - (we like Rao's Marinara)
  • ยฝ cup shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

Prep

  • Preheat the oven to 350ยฐ.
  • Boil the shells until they are al dente, about 8 mins. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
    Pro Tip: always boil a couple extra shells than you need. This accounts for any shells that tear or fall apart while boiling.
  • In the now empty pasta cooking pot, over low – medium/low heat, add the butter, once melted stir in the flour, making a roux.
    Whisk in the heavy cream. Bring to a very light simmer for about 1 minute.
    Pour in the marinara sauce. Stir to combine. Remove from the heat.
  • Meanwhile, in a skillet soften the onions in 2 tablespoon oil over medium heat, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, sausage, and ground beef, crumble while cooking until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.
    Drain the excess grease. (I like to push the meat to one side of the pan, tip it to the side so the grease drains from the meat, then using tongs and paper towels sop up the grease.)
    Stir in the drained tomatoes. Set aside to cool for a couple minutes.
  • Add 1 ยฝ cups shredded mozzarella to the meat mixture and stir. The mozzarella may melt a little, but that is ok.

Assembly

  • Pour half the creamy marinara on the bottom of a 9×13 pan.
    Stuff the shells with the meat mixture and lay in the pan. You will have 20-25 shells.
    If you have extra meat mixture just add it to the pan around the shells.
  • Pour the remaining creamy marinara over top.
  • Cover the pan with foil.

Baking

  • Bake, covered, for 20 minutes.
  • Mix the parmesan cheese and remaining shredded mozzarella together.
  • Uncover and sprinkle the cheese mixture over top. Bake, uncovered, for 10 more minutes.
    Optionally – broil the last 2 minutes to brown the top.
  • Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
    Serve 3-4 shells per person.

How To Make Ahead

  • Prep the shells just like the instruction above until it is time to bake in the oven. Instead cover with foil and pop in the fridge. Keep for up to 2 days.
    Then bake straight from the fridge, covered, 350 degrees for 25 minutes, then remove the foil, top with cheese and bake another 10 minutes.

Recipe Tips and Notes:

Vegetarian Option – These Spinach & Ricotta Stuffed Shells are a great veggie option.
Did you make this recipe?Connect with me and let me know by commenting below!
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About Susie Weinrich

Susie Weinrich is the recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind Mom's Dinner. She has over 20 years experience in the food industry. Currently, Susie shares all her recipes and food knowledge on Mom's Dinner. You will find her recipes are easy to follow and full of tips and tricks to make sure the recipe you are making turns out perfect!

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Susie Weinrich is a professional food photographer and recipe developer. Her thoroughly tested recipes and step-by-step guides give readers confidence in the kitchen.

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