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Baked Shotgun Shells with melted cheese and parsley, ready to serve.

Shotgun Shells Baked to Perfection in the Oven


  • Total Time: 55 minutes

Description

Baked Shotgun Shells are a crispy, cheesy, and irresistible comfort food made with manicotti pasta stuffed with a savory ground beef and cheese filling, smothered in marinara sauce, and baked to perfection. Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or game-day snacks!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box (8 oz) manicotti pasta shells
  • 1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey for a lighter option)
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook manicotti shells al dente, drain, and set aside.
  2. Brown ground beef in a skillet, drain fat, then mix with ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  3. Fill each manicotti shell with the meat and cheese mixture, arrange in a greased baking dish, and top with marinara sauce.
  4. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover, add extra cheese if desired, and bake for another 10 minutes until bubbly. Garnish with parsley before serving.

Notes

  • Don’t overcook the manicotti shells—they should be firm enough to hold their shape when stuffed.
  • Use a piping bag or a ziplock bag with the corner snipped off for easier filling.
  • Let the dish rest for 5 minutes after baking for easier serving.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 shells
  • Calories: 420 Kcal
  • Sugar: 5g
  • Sodium: 680mg
  • Fat: 22g
  • Saturated Fat: 10g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9g
  • Trans Fat: 0.5g
  • Carbohydrates: 32g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 26g
  • Cholesterol: 95mg

Keywords: baked shotgun shells, manicotti recipe, cheesy pasta bake, ground beef pasta, easy dinner recipe, comfort food