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Three-Cheese Beef Pasta Shells

Prep 25 min
Total 1 hr 20 min
Servings 8

With simple ingredients – think ground beef, tomato sauce and cream cheese – you can turn out an impressive dinner that only takes 25 minutes of prep. In fact, this is the perfect dish for company. Make it ahead and let it bake while you visit. MORE + LESS -

Ingredients

uncooked jumbo pasta shells

lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef

jar (26 oz) chunky tomato pasta sauce

1/4

cup water

container (8 oz) chive and onion cream cheese spread

1 1/2

cups shredded 6 cheese Italian cheese blend (6 oz)

1/2

cup grated Parmesan cheese

egg

to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, if desired

Steps

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1

Heat oven to 350°F. Cook and drain pasta shells as directed on package.
2

In 10-inch skillet, cook ground beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
3

In large bowl, mix pasta sauce and water. Pour 1 cup of the pasta sauce mixture in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. In medium bowl, mix cheese spread, 1 cup of the Italian cheese, the Parmesan cheese, egg and cooked ground beef. Spoon heaping tablespoon mixture into each shell. Arrange stuffed shells over sauce in baking dish. Pour remaining sauce over top, covering shells completely. Cover with foil.
4

Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until bubbly and cheese filling is set. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Italian cheese. Bake 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley.

Expert Tips

For the best results, cook the pasta shells just until al dente (still slightly firm). They are easier to stuff, and they won’t be overcooked during baking.
If you can’t find chive and onion cream cheese spread, just stir 1 tablespoon of each, finely chopped, into plain cream cheese spread.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Calories: 490
Calories from Fat: 230

% Daily Value

Total Fat: 26g; 40%
Saturated Fat 13g 64% Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol: 110mg; 37%
Sodium: 1170mg; 49%
Potassium: 530mg; 15%
Total Carbohydrate: 39g; 13%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11% Sugars 11g
Protein: 25g

% Daily Value*:

Vitamin A: 20%; 20%
Vitamin C: 8%; 8%
Calcium: 30%; 30%
Iron: 20%; 20%

Exchanges:

2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 2 1/2 Fat;