Sausage Cheese Shells

These shells are so delicious and flavorful. Plus they are topped with an easy to make sauce. My family enjoys these shells with some breadsticks and a salad.

Sausage Cheese Shells

Ingredients:

Shells

• 1 pound hot Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
• 8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 cup small curd cottage cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 box jumbo pasta shells

Sauce

• 29 ounces no salt added tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions and drain.
2. Preheat oven to 350º F. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
3. In a large skillet, over medium heat, cook sausage and onion until sausage is completely cooked. Transfer to a large bowl.
4. Add in spinach, cream cheese, egg and 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Stir to mix well.
5. Add in cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, black pepper and cinnamon. Mix well.
6. Stuff shells with sausage and cheese mixture and place in prepared baking dish.
7. In a large bowl combine all of the sauce ingredients until well combined and pour over shells.
8. Cover and bake for 40 minutes.
9. Uncover and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and bake for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Enjoy!!!

Notes:

Hot sausage may be substituted with mild or sweet Italian sausage.

Serves: 8

Calories: 588

Total Fat: 27.5g

   Saturated: 14.5g

   Polyunsaturated: 0.5g

   Monounsaturated: 3.9g

   Trans: 9g

Cholesterol: 133.5mg

Sodium: 997.4mg

Potassium: 333.2mg

Total Carbs: 47.8g

   Dietary Fiber: 4.7g

   Sugars: 7.1g

Protein: 35.6g

Vitamin A: 83.3%

Vitamin C: 28.1%

Calcium: 43.1%

Iron: 27.6%

*The nutritional information will vary slightly depending on the brands you use.

*Adapted from Taste of Home’s Casserole Cookbook.