Stuffed Shells

*Warning* Super simple recipe below! Stuffed shells are so much fun and really not as difficult and you might think. On the nights that I'm in a hurry or the hubby works late this is perfect.

All you need is a 16 ounce box of jumbo shells, cottage cheese,cheese, ground beef, and your favorite spaghetti sauce.

Cook the shells according to the box directions,*tip always salt your pasta water it helps with flavor and stickiness* When they are done drain them and lay them out to keep them from sticking to each other. I just lay them on my cutting board.

While the shells are cooking, brown your ground beef. Add cottage cheese and spaghetti sauce. Save a little sauce to put on the bottom of you baking dish. Here is where you need to watch. Add sauce and cottage cheese a little at a time. You don't want it to be to runny so if you have to add more or less it's fine.

Once that is cooked pour your unused spaghetti sauce into the bottom of your baking dish, just enough to cover the bottom so the shells won't stick to the pan. I halved the recipe so I used an 8x8 dish but for the full recipe you will use 9x13 dish. Spoon the stuffing into the shells, (I had to hold them in my hand and open each one) and lay in your dish.

Sprinkle with as much or as little shredded cheese as you would like.

Bake at 350 degrees until the cheese is melted and all heated through, about 10-15 minutes.

Measurements are not crucial for this recipe it really is a little of this a little of that until you get the filling to a good consistency and a taste that you like.

Serve with a side of garlic bread and there you go! So easy but so good, the best kind of recipe.

The filling can be used for lasagna also, it's my go to for about anything like this.

Stuffed Shells

1 large box of jumbo shell pasta.

1 jar of spaghetti sauce (your favorite)

Large container of cottage cheese

Ground beef (or any ground meat you like)

Shredded cheese 

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven 350 degrees

Cook pasta according to directions. When it is done drain and lay on a surface so they are not touching each other to prevent them from sticking to each other.

While the pasta is cooking, brown your ground beef. Add spaghetti sauce and cottage cheese try not to make it to thin. Reserve a little spaghetti sauce.

Coat the bottom of your baking dish with the reserved spaghetti sauce. Open each shell and spoon the filling into them and lay in the bottom of your pan.

Sprinkle shells with shredded cheese and bake until cheese melts and it is all heated through about 10-15 minutes.

*Measurements are not crucial for this recipe just be sure to get the filling to a consistency and taste that you like*

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