Italian Sausage Stuffed Shells with Three Cheeses

Jumbo pasta shells hold a filling of Italian brat sausage, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan, then bake under marinara sauce and more mozzarella. It is a straightforward baked pasta dinner with seasoned sausage and three cheeses in every shell.

Watch How to Make It

The smoked paprika, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning are stirred directly into the cooked sausage. That seasoned filling is spooned into the cooked shells before everything goes into the oven.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This recipe uses six Italian brat sausages with a cheese filling made from ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and an egg. The shells are covered with marinara or pizza sauce and finished with the remaining mozzarella.

The bake has two parts. The shells bake covered with foil first, then finish uncovered until the top is bubbly and golden.

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Ingredients You'll Need

Start with 20 to 24 jumbo pasta shells, cooked according to the package directions. The filling combines Italian brat sausage with garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, and dried basil.

Ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, and one egg join the sausage for the shell filling. Marinara or pizza sauce goes beneath and over the stuffed shells, while salt and pepper can be added to taste.

Use two cups of shredded mozzarella total. One cup is mixed into the filling, and the remaining cup is sprinkled across the top before baking.

How To Make It

Preheat the oven to 375°F before assembling the shells. Cook the jumbo shells according to the package instructions, then drain them and set them aside.

Preparation

Remove the casings from the Italian brats and cook the sausage in a skillet over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Drain away the excess grease before seasoning the sausage with garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, and dried basil.

Stir the seasonings well into the sausage, then remove the skillet from the heat. In a bowl, mix the seasoned sausage with the ricotta, one cup of mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and egg.

Spoon the filling into each cooked shell. Spread one cup of marinara or pizza sauce in the dish, then place the stuffed shells in the dish.

Finishing

Pour the remaining sauce over the stuffed shells, then sprinkle the remaining mozzarella over the top. Cover the dish with foil and bake it for 25 minutes at 375°F.

Remove the foil and continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden. Let the shells rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serving

Serve the shells after the 5-minute rest. Each portion includes cooked pasta, sausage filling, sauce, and melted mozzarella from the finished bake.

Salt and pepper are included to taste with the recipe ingredients. Marinara sauce or pizza sauce can be used for the sauce layer called for in the instructions.

Wrapping Up

These stuffed shells bring together seasoned Italian brat sausage, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and marinara or pizza sauce in one baked dish. The final uncovered bake gives the mozzarella its bubbly, golden finish before the brief rest. Recipe created by Blue Collar Chef for Trust Me Try It.

Italian Sausage Stuffed Shells with Three Cheeses

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 20-24 jumbo pasta shells
• 6 Italian brat sausages casings removed
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 2 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• 3 cup marinara or pizza sauce
• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Cook jumbo shells according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
• In a skillet, remove casings from Italian brats and cook over medium heat until browned and cooked through.
• Drain excess grease.
• Season sausage with garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, and dried basil. Stir well and remove from heat.
• In a bowl, mix together ricotta, 1 cup of mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, egg, and the seasoned sausage mixture.
• Spoon the filling into each cooked shell.
• Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce in the.
• Place stuffed shells in the dish and pour remaining sauce over the top.
• Sprinkle remaining mozzarella on top.
• Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
• Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
• Let rest for 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!