Budget Friendly Meal Under $25 Stuffed Shells
Are your kids eating you out of house and home?😂I know mine are. My kids absolutely love this meal. My daughter found it on TikTok and asked me to make it .😋😋
Ingredients:
1 pound of ground beef
One jar of marinara sauce
One bag of mozzarella cheese
One bag of Parmesan cheese
One container of ricotta cheese
Thick and zesty McCormick packet
One can of chopped spinach
One box of jumbo shells
One egg
Pre-Heat Oven to 350 degrees
Directions:
The first thing I do is I cooked the ground beef on medium heat and season it with whatever seasoning you would like. Drain the meat. Add the marinara sauce. Stir. Then add the zesty McCormick to the mixture and let it boil and then allow it to simmer on low for 10 minutes.
Follow the directions on the back of the box when cooking Jumbo Shells. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop from cooking and set to the side.
In a separate bowl add the one egg and whisk it, then add the ricotta cheese and mix it with a spoon. Next add one cup of mozzarella cheese, 2 tablespoons of spinach, and one cup of Parmesan cheese to the mixture. Season the mixture with Italian, parsley, salt and pepper, and garlic seasoning.
I use the 9 x 13 rectangular glass baking pan.
I added half of the marinara sauce to the bottom of the pan.
Then I put a spoonful of the ricotta mix in the jumbo shells and layered them at the bottom of the glass baking pan.
Once that was completed, I used the remaining of the marinara sauce and layered it over the shells. Then I took two cups of mozzarella and spread it across the marinara sauce and then I took one cup of Parmesan and spread it on top of the cheese.
Put it in the oven for 30 minutes and then put
it on Broil for 2 minutes to get the top golden brown.
#affordablerecipes #cheap easy dinner idea #budgetfriendlymeals
If you're looking for a hearty, comforting meal that doesn't break the bank, stuffed shells are a terrific option. I’ve made this recipe several times for my family and the feedback is always unanimous—delicious and filling! One tip I learned is that using jumbo pasta shells really helps with stuffing the ricotta and spinach mixture efficiently. To add extra flavor, I sometimes sprinkle a bit of crushed red pepper flakes or fresh basil on top before baking. This gives it a subtle kick and fresh aroma. A key part of this recipe’s success is letting the meat sauce simmer after combining the ground beef with marinara and the zesty McCormick seasoning packet. This step allows the flavors to meld beautifully. When you're in a rush, a quick simmer works, but I find that a longer simmer deepens the taste wonderfully. For those wanting to add extra veggies, I recommend stirring in some chopped mushrooms or diced bell peppers while cooking the beef. This boosts the nutritional content without changing the overall flavor much. Using a 9 x 13 glass baking dish not only fits the shells perfectly, but also allows even cooking and easy cleanup. Broiling at the end for a couple of minutes to brown the cheese topping adds an irresistible crispy finish that kids love. Finally, this recipe is budget-friendly because it uses store-brand or sale items like H-E-B jumbo shells and Bertolli marinara sauce, which are great quality but cost-effective choices. Keep an eye out for deals on cheeses and ground beef to keep your meal under $25 as promised. Overall, this stuffed shells dish hits the perfect balance between affordability, taste, and ease.
Please post a picture when you make it!!! 🥰