Easy Shortcut Stuffed Shells Pasta Casserole Recipe (4 Ingredients) by Donna John

My local grocery store has these evil little yellow coupons that make you buy stuff that's not on your list. Buy this product and you get this product free. How can you resist? Last week I got a free bag of frozen jumbo stuffed pasta shells. On a busy night when I did not really feel like cooking, they saved the day. This easy pasta casserole recipe was in the oven quick and let me relax while it baked to cheesy perfection. 

This Italian-inspired shortcut pasta recipe only requires four ingredients. To make this cheesy casserole you will need a bag of frozen stuffed shells, Italian sausage, a jar or marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. After quickly cooking the sausage up in a skillet, the ingredients are layered and baked. The cheese goes on last so it stays ooey, gooey and gives you that string pull in every bite. Delicious.

Serve this four-ingredient pasta casserole for dinner with your favorite side dishes. I served mine with a spring mix salad with a creamy Caesar dressing.

Cuisine: Italian / American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 19 - 23 ounces frozen stuffed shells (do not thaw)
• 1/2 pound bulk Italian sausage
• 23 ounces (1 jar) marinara sauce or spaghetti sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Recipe Notes

• You can also add some grated Parmesan cheese to the top.

• Use whatever type of Italian sausage you like. You could use spicy, mild, regular, pork, turkey or even venison mixed with pork like I used. You could also use ground beef or ground turkey. For a vegetarian casserole, skip the sausage or meat.

• I used a square glass baking dish, but use whatever size fits the shells in a single layer.

• For color, I like to sprinkle the casserole with parsley flakes.

• For some spice, add some crushed red pepper flakes.

• Store the casserole covered in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave.

Here's how to make it: 

1. Cook the Italian sausage in a skillet until cooked through. Use a wooden spoon to crumble it up as you stir.
   
2. Put a layer of the marinara sauce on the bottom of a baking dish.
   
3. Put the shells in a single layer on top of the sauce.
   
4. Spoon the Italian sausage over the shells.
   
5. Pour the remaining sauce over the top.
   
6. Bake in a preheated 375-degree F oven for about 35 minutes. Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle with the mozzarella.
   
7. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese has melted, about 5 minutes more.
   
8. Sprinkle with parsley flakes, if desired, and serve with your favorite side dishes.
   
   

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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