• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Urban Bliss Life logo

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • contact
  • shop
  • cookbooks
  • resources
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • 30-Minute Meals
    • Air Fryer
    • Appetizers
    • Asian
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Cookies
    • Dairy-free
    • Dessert
    • Filipino
    • Holiday
    • Instant Pot
    • Main Dish
    • Pasta
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Seafood
    • Vegan
    • Cocktails
    • Dog Treats
  • Wine
    • Food & Wine Pairing
    • Oregon Wine
    • Washington
    • California
  • Travel
    • Travel Gear
    • Travel Tips
    • Hotels
    • USA travel
    • Europe
    • Japan
    • Canada
    • Asia
  • Restaurants
  • About
    • Work With Us
    • Press
    • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • Wine
  • Travel
  • Cookbooks
  • About
  • Work With Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Urban Bliss Life » All Recipes » Pasta Recipes » Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef (dairy free)

    Published: January 5, 2023 / Updated: February 9, 2025 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef (dairy free)

    13 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    casserole dish of stuffed shells with ground beef with a wooden spoon and side of dairy free parmesan cheese and title text overlay.
    wooden spoon holding up one stuffed pasta shell above a casserole dish full of stuffed shells with ground beef with title text overlay.
    wooden spoon holding up one stuffed pasta shell above a casserole dish full of stuffed shells with ground beef and title text overlay.

    Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef is a delicious dairy free main dish that feeds a crowd, making it perfect for Sunday dinner. It's a great recipe to make for meal planning, and makes for a delicious freezer meal.

    A casserole dish full of stuffed shells with ground beef.

    Pasta is one of the ultimate comfort foods.

    When you're looking for a hearty meal, a big bowl of Shrimp and Sausage Pasta, Bruschetta Pasta, or Crockpot Turkey Tetrazzini hits the spot.

    And it's easy to enjoy pasta dishes that are dairy free, too! This Dairy Free Mac and Cheese is always a crowd pleaser. And this Dairy Free Lasagna and Dairy Free Cheeseburger Pasta are both super satisfying.

    Add this Dairy Free Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef to your regular dinner rotation. The whole family will love it!

    Jump to:
    • 🌟 Why this recipe works
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • ✅ Step-by-step instructions
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs
    • 🍽 Serving ideas
    • 🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
    • 🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
    • More delicious recipes
    • Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef

    🌟 Why this recipe works

    closeup of cooked stuffed shells with ground beef.

    This pasta recipe is sure to become a family fave.

    • The recipe is easy to follow.
    • It calls for simple ingredients you can find in almost any grocery store.
    • It makes enough to feed 8 to 10 people.
    • This is a great freezer meal, especially for a family of four: enjoy half now, and the other half you can freeze for another dinner next time.
    • You can easily customize this recipe based on what you have on hand and your personal taste preference.

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    bowls of ingredients to make stuffed shells with ground beef.

    Ground beef - Use lean ground beef or you can substitute Italian sausage, ground turkey, or ground pork.

    Jumbo pasta shells - You'll cook the whole pound of jumbo shells but will likely not use the entire package for this recipe. This way, you will have enough shells in case some of them break while cooking. Save the rest for another pasta dish.

    Vegetables - I like to add shredded carrots, finely chopped spinach, garlic and onions to the meat mixture for added nutrition.

    Herbs - This recipe calls for fresh basil and parsley, but you can substitute dried Italian seasoning.

    Dairy Free Cheese - Use dairy free vegan mozzarella cheese. You can also use vegan parmesan cheese.

    Nutritional yeast - A staple ingredient in dairy free and vegan cooking, nutritional yeast adds a nutty, cheesy flavor to any dish.

    ✅ Step-by-step instructions

    Full detailed cooking instructions are in the recipe card below. But here's a quick step-by-step look at how to make this dairy free recipe.

    jumbo pasta shells cooking in a pot of boiling water.
    bowl of ground beef, carrots, spinach, dairy free cheese, herbs and spices to make the filling for stuffed shells with ground beef.
    1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of water according to package instructions, just until the jumbo shells are cooked al dente. Remember they will continue cooking in the oven.
    2. Make the ground beef filling.
    white bowl with tomato sauce, garlic, and herbs to make a marinara sauce.
    buttering a casserole dish.

    3. Make the marinara sauce.

    4. Butter the casserole dish.

    wooden spoon placing a layer of marinara sauce in a casserole dish.
    one uncooked stuffed shell with ground beef placed in a casserole dish on top of marinara sauce.

    5. Add a layer of sauce to the baking dish.

    6. Stuff each cooked shell with the filling, then place in the baking dish.

    stuffed shells with ground beef uncooked and ready to bake.
    stuffed shells with ground beef topped with more marinara sauce.

    7. Continue stuffing the shells until you have enough to fill the casserole dish. Spoon the remaining sauce between the shells and over the shells.

    8. Bake at 350°F degrees for 40-45 minutes.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

    wooden spoon holding up a stuffed shells with ground beef over a casserole dish full of the pasta course.
    Can I make this with cheese?

    Yes! It's easy to make this into a cheesy stuffed shells recipe with regular cheese instead of dairy-free cheese. Try using parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, cheddar cheese, or a cheese mixture of different types of cheese.

    Can I use jarred pasta sauce instead?

    Yes. You can use your favorite pasta sauce or tomato sauce instead of making your own tomato sauce.

    What's the best way to store leftovers?

    Allow the stuffed shells to cool completely, then store in an airtight container or cover the cooled baking dish tightly with plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator for up to four days.

    Can I freeze this pasta recipe?

    These stuffed shells with ground beef make a great freezer meal! In fact, I like to make this recipe into two separate baking dishes and serve one immediately, then freeze the other baking dish for another dinner. Store in a freezer safe container for up to one month.

    🍽 Serving ideas

    casserole dish of stuffed shells with ground beef with a wooden spoon and side of dairy free parmesan cheese.

    This pasta dish is great served with a simple side salad and some garlic bread.

    Other side dishes to complement the Italian flavors of this recipe include Garlic Parmesan Knots, Homemade French Bread, Instant Pot Broccoli, or Garlic Lemon Asparagus.

    🍷 🥂 Wine pairings

    This rich, comfort food classic pairs well with a bold, full-bodied Italian red wine. Pair it with a Chianti, Sangiovese, Barolo, or Barbaresco.

    🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment

    Ready to make this recipe? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:

    Large pot - You'll need a large pot to cook the large pasta shells.

    Casserole dish - Use a large baking dish that's around 9" x 13". You may have enough shells, meat filling, and sauce to fill two casserole dishes.

    More delicious recipes

    • berry overnight oats in a mason jar.
      Berry Overnight Oats
    • ube ice cream, ube donuts, ube cookies, ube bars with title text overlay "Best Ube Dessert Recipes"
      Filipino Ube Desserts
    • chicken and chorizo orzo in a pan.
      Chicken and Chorizo Orzo
    • bowl of chicken tzatziki salad with side of pita bread.
      Tzatziki Chicken Salad

    Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

    A casserole dish full of stuffed shells with ground beef.

    Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef

    5 from 2 votes
    Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 45 minutes mins
    Total Time: 1 hour hr
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    Jumbo pasta shells are stuffed with lean ground beef, veggies, and dairy-free cheese and baked to dinner perfection.
    Servings: 10 people
    Calories: 293kcal
    PRINT PIN RATE 🤍 SAVESaved!

    Ingredients

    For the filling

    • 1 package (16 ounces) jumbo or large pasta shells
    • 1 pound lean ground beef
    • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
    • 1 cup vegan mozzarella
    • 1 cup chopped spinach
    • ½ cup shredded carrots
    • ¼ cup finely diced onions
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
    • 1 Tablespoon thinly sliced basil
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

    For the sauce

    • 2 cans (28-ounce cans) crushed tomatoes
    • 1 garlic clove, minced
    • 1 Tablespoon thinly sliced basil
    • 1 Tablespoon finely chopped parsley
    • Optional: additional chopped parsley for garnish
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions

    • In a large stockpot, cook the pasta according to package directions.

    Make the filling

    • In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, panko breadcrumbs, vegan mozzarella, spinach, carrots, onions, garlic, eggs, 1 tablespoon of sliced basil, and salt and pepper.
    • In a separate large bowl, combine all of the sauce ingredients (tomatoes, garlic, basil and parsley).
    • Butter a large baking dish. Spoon a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of the pan.
    • Drain the cooked pasta and run briefly under cold water, just until the pasta is cool enough for you to hold. Stuff each pasta shell with a large spoonful of filling. Place stuffed shells on top of the tomato sauce in the baking dish.
    • Once the baking dish is full of stuffed shells, spoon the remaining sauce into the spaces between the shells.
    • Bake at 350°F for 40 to 45 minutes.
    • Allow the dish to cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Then garnish with parsley and/or basil, and serve.

    Notes

    Makes 8 - 10 servings
    Stuffed shells: You will likely have extra pasta shells. Save them for another dish later in the week! You may also have extra sauce. You can freeze any remaining sauce for up to one month. 
    Meat: Instead of lean ground beef, you could substitute ground turkey.
    Make it vegan: substitute chopped mushrooms for the ground beef.
    Freezer meal idea: bake in two separate baking dishes, then enjoy one now and freeze the other for later!
    Storage: Allow the food to cool, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Or, store in a freezer safe container or freezer bag in the freezer for up to one month. 
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 433mg | Potassium: 548mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1630IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 3mg

    Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

    « Instant Pot Vegan Recipes
    25 Pizza Side Dishes »
    13 shares

    Get recipes, travel tips, deals and more delivered to your inbox!

      Reader Interactions

      5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating





      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

      Primary Sidebar

      casserole dish of stuffed shells with ground beef with a wooden spoon and side of dairy free parmesan cheese and title text overlay.
      wooden spoon holding up one stuffed pasta shell above a casserole dish full of stuffed shells with ground beef with title text overlay.
      wooden spoon holding up one stuffed pasta shell above a casserole dish full of stuffed shells with ground beef and title text overlay.
      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! If you're looking for easy, fast, delicious family-friendly recipes, wine pairings, and travel tips, you've come to the right place! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

      More about me →

      Featured In

      Urban Bliss Life Press Featured In graphic

      Spring Recipes

      • Half of a quiche in a pie pan with salmon, asparagus, and leeks.
        Salmon Quiche
      • strawberry crinkle cookies on a plate
        Strawberry Crinkle Cookies
      • dill pickle potato salad
        Dill Pickle Potato Salad
      • bowl of cucumber dill salad.
        Cucumber Dill Salad

      More Spring Recipes ➡️

      New Recipes

      • berry overnight oats in a mason jar.
        Berry Overnight Oats
      • ube ice cream, ube donuts, ube cookies, ube bars with title text overlay "Best Ube Dessert Recipes"
        Filipino Ube Desserts
      • chicken and chorizo orzo in a pan.
        Chicken and Chorizo Orzo
      • bowl of chicken tzatziki salad with side of pita bread.
        Tzatziki Chicken Salad

      New Travel Tips

      • scenes from Casablanca, Chefchaouen, Fes, and Sahara Desert with title text overlay 10 Day Morocco Itinerary.
        10 Day Morocco Itinerary: From Casablanca to the Sahara to the Sea
      • bottles of syrah
        Wine Tasting in Tournon-sur-Rhone
      • vineyards at Domaine De Fond-vieille in Beaujolais, France
        Wine Tasting in Beaujolais: Domaine De Fond-vieille
      • exterior of abba hotel san sebastian spain
        Where to Stay in San Sebastian: Abba San Sebastian

      Visit our Sister Sites

      Fifty cups of coffee logo
      • Twitter
      • Facebook
      • Pinterest
      • Instagram
      • YouTube

      Footer

      casserole dish of stuffed shells with ground beef with a wooden spoon and side of dairy free parmesan cheese and title text overlay.
      wooden spoon holding up one stuffed pasta shell above a casserole dish full of stuffed shells with ground beef with title text overlay.
      wooden spoon holding up one stuffed pasta shell above a casserole dish full of stuffed shells with ground beef and title text overlay.

      ↑ back to top

      logos of media outlets that have featured urban bliss life.

      Recipes

      • 30-Minute Meals
      • 5-Ingredients
      • Air Fryer
      • Asian
      • Dairy-Free
      • Pasta
      • Seafood

      About

      • About
      • FAQs
      • Privacy & Accessibility Policy
      • Terms & Conditions

      Contact

      • Contact
      • Work with me

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
      Copyright © 2024 Urban Bliss Life

      All rights reserved. You may not use any photos or recipes on this site for any personal or commercial use without my express written permission.

      Rate This Recipe

      Your vote:




      A rating is required
      A name is required
      An email is required

      Recipe Ratings without Comment

      Something went wrong. Please try again.