Smoked Stuffed Shells

5 from 1 vote

Smoked stuffed shells with meaty stuffing, topped with a ton of cheese and finished with rich, smoky flavor—an easy comfort food favorite.

Prep Time15

Cook Time45

Course: Appetizer, dinner, holiday meal, party food, main

Cuisine: Italian, American

Keyword: comfort food, hearty, cheesy, smoked stuffed shells, Italian inspired recipe, grilled pasta, Italian sausage stuffing, weeknight dinner recipe, easy dinner, grillin with dad recipes., meat-filled

Servings: People

Author: Maciek Zurawski

Ingredients

1 pkg Jumbo pasta shells
48 oz Marinara sauce
1 lb Ground beef (80/20)
1 lb Italian sausage (mild)
1/2 Yellow onion (finely diced)
1/4 cup Chopped parsley
1/4 cup Breadcrumbs
1/2 cup Grated parmesan
1 tbsp Minced garlic
1 tbsp All purpose seasoning
8 oz Shredded mozzarella
8 oz Mozzarella cheese block (cubed)
1/4 cup Grated parmesan

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta shells for around 8 minutes. Drain and drizzle olive oil to avoid the shells from sticking to each other.
In a large mixing, add the ground beef, Italian sausage, diced onion, parsley, breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup grated parmesan, garlic and AP seasoning.
Mix everything with your hands, making sure all the ingredients are fully incorporated.
Take a scoop of the filling mix and carefully stuff it inside the shell. Add a small cube of mozzarella cheese to the filling and cover with the meat.
Add a thin layer of marinara sauce to the bottom of a cast iron skillet
Arrange the stuffed shells in the skillet, one next to the other, until full. Cover the top with more marinara sauce.
Finish it off with shredded mozzarella , the remaining cubed mozzarella and grated parmesan.
Preheat the grill to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Cover the full cast iron skillet with aluminum foil and place it on the grill for 20 minutes.
Remove the foil and continue cooking uncovered, for 20-30 minutes, or until the internal temperate of the filling reaches 145 degrees.
Remove it from the grill and let it rest 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

Don’t overcook the pasta before stuffing
Use whole milk cheese for creaminess and the extra cheese pull
Let rest before serving to set the filling
Use a cast iron skillet for even heat and presentation

Nutrition