Meatball Stuffed Shells

This easy Meatball Stuffed Shells recipe makes a quick and delicious dinner. Jumbo pasta shells are filled with savory meatballs, then covered in rich spaghetti sauce and melted cheese.

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Meatball stuffed pasta shells are the easiest comfort meal around to prepare. Once you cook the shells, you stuff them with your family’s favorite frozen meatballs, layer with sauce and cheese and bake! This dish is always a hit in our house. It’s simple to prepare before baking and the kids love how the shells are like a little pasta meatball sandwich.

Every bite is saucy and cheesy with the savory flavors of meatballs and noodles, this is one meal to add to your regular rotation. Plus you can prepare these easy stuffed shells ahead of time so when you get home, you can just put it into the oven and supper will be ready in no time.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• You can prepare this dish up to 2 days in advance. Cover well with foil and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to cook. Leave it on the counter while the oven preheats to bring the temperature up for an even cook.
• This recipe uses your favorite storebought sauce and meatballs so preparation is super simple.
• Meatball stuffed shells make a terrific freezer meal. Double up the recipe to have one tonight and one later on. Just remember, when you are putting it all together, not to thaw the meatballs. Keep them frozen if you will be freezing this dish.

Ingredients for Meatball Stuffed Shells

• Jumbo pasta shells – Depending on the size of your meatballs, there may not be a substitute for these shells. If the meatballs are small and you can’t find jumbo shells, you might be able to use manicotti or cannelonni.
• Spaghetti sauce – Using your favorite storebought sauce makes this dish so quick to put together. If you want to make homemade, Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce is a great hands-off option.
• Frozen Italian meatballs – This is a huge time saver. Thaw in the fridge overnight and you’ll be ready to prepare the stuffed shells. You can always use Baked Meatballs, too. If you plan to make this ahead of time, don’t worry about thawing before you put the dish together.
• Cheddar cheese – Buy a block and shred it yourself for the best flavor and meltability. You can also use mozzarella cheese if that’s what you already have on hand.
• Garlic – Fresh, minced garlic adds such a great punch of flavor to this dish.

How To Make Stuffed Shells

1. In a large pot, prepare shells to al dente according to package instructions. Drain and rinse in cold water.
2. Spread 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce on bottom of baking dish and sprinkle with minced garlic.
3. Fill each shell with a meatball and place in baking dish. Top with remaining sauce and sprinkle with shredded cheddar.
4. Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 3-5 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Storage and Reheating

Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Freezer: You can freeze this dish in an airtight container. Wrap with plastic wrap before putting the lid on to prevent freezer burn. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

To reheat meatball stuffed shells, use the microwave or stovetop. Add a little water for added moisture so the noodles and sauce don’t dry out, cover the shells and heat until hot throughout.

Any pasta is a great comfort dish and these meatball stuffed shells are no different. They’re a great weeknight option for your family, and the kids can help with prep!

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

 

4.86 from 7 votes

Meatball Stuffed Shells Recipe

This Easy Meatball Stuffed Shells recipe is a quick and delicious dinner made with jumbo pasta shells, savory meatballs, rich spaghetti sauce, and melted cheese—perfect for busy nights or family meals.

Prep:15 minutes mins

Cook:40 minutes mins

Total:55 minutes mins

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6

servings

Equipment

• Large pot
• Colander
• 9×13" casserole dish
• Nonstick spray
• Box grater

Ingredients

• ▢ 36 uncooked jumbo pasta shells
• ▢ 24 ounces spaghetti sauce (1 jar)
• ▢ 36 frozen fully cooked Italian style meatballs thawed
• ▢ 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic minced

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray and set aside.
• Prepare shells to al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water.
• Spread ½ cup spaghetti sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle garlic over the spaghetti sauce.
• Fill each shell with a meatball and place in baking dish. Top with remaining sauce and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
• Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake 35 minutes in preheated oven at 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Uncover and bake an additional 3-5 minutes longer until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 582kcal (29%), Carbohydrates: 43g (14%), Protein: 31g (62%), Fat: 32g (49%), Saturated Fat: 14g (88%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 98mg (33%), Sodium: 834mg (36%), Potassium: 720mg (21%), Fiber: 3g (13%), Sugar: 5g (6%), Vitamin A: 874IU (17%), Vitamin C: 9mg (11%), Calcium: 307mg (31%), Iron: 3mg (17%)

© Julie's Eats & Treats ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.

How To Serve Meatball Stuffed Shells

This is a hearty pasta dish that doesn’t need a whole lot of extras. I do love to serve meatball stuffed shells with a green salad and a buttery Garlic Bread.

End your meal with a popular Italian dessert: Tiramisu.

More Great Stuffed Pasta Recipes

• Pasta on taco night? Switch up everyone’s favorite day of the week and make Taco Stuffed Shells. All of the best taco flavors with the comfort of pasta.
• Classic Stuffed Shells are filled with cheese, cheese and more cheese! Topped with a rich marinara sauce and then baked with more cheese on top, these shells are a must try.
• Quick and easy comfort food at it’s finest, Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells combine chicken, cheese and the creamiest sauce.