Make-Ahead Unstuffed Shells

photo by:kraft

My family loves this recipe! I served it to guests one time and they were impressed. It's up a notch from noodles and sauce - very good.

posted by

Mangeons

on 4/19/2013

time

prep:

30 min

total:

1 hr 15 min

servings

total:

6 servings

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What You Need

cups medium pasta shells, uncooked

lb. extra-lean ground beef

jar (24 oz.) marinara sauce

tub (10 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Italian Herb Cooking Creme

1/3

cup chopped fresh basil

1/4

cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

1-1/2

cups KRAFT Shredded Mozzarella Cheese with a TOUCH OF PHILADELPHIA

Make It

COOK pasta as directed on package, omitting salt. Meanwhile, brown meat in large skillet; drain. Stir in marinara sauce; simmer on medium heat 2 min. Remove from heat.

DRAIN pasta. Mix cooking creme, basil and Parmesan in large bowl; stir in pasta. Spread half the meat sauce onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover with layers of pasta mixture and remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella; cover with foil. Refrigerate up to 24 hours.

HEAT oven to 375ºF. Bake casserole, covered, 40 to 45 min. or until heated through, uncovering after 30 min.

Kraft Kitchens Tips

Family Fun

Spend time with your family by preparing this meal together and enjoying a walk afterwards.

Special Extra

Cook 1 each small chopped onion and green pepper along with the meat.

Variation

Casserole can be baked immediately after assembling. Just reduce the baking time to 30 min., uncovering after 20 min.

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a cook

posted:1/25/2012

So easy to make, and dinner was ready in no time. It was delicious!

a cook

posted:1/24/2012

My family loves this recipe. I make it with the Italian Cheese and Herb cream cheese and leave out the basil. It is fantastic. It gives it a real Italian flavor. My family calls it Lazy Man's Lasagna. :)

a cook

posted:1/23/2012

I doubled the batch for an extended family party. It was a big hit!

traceytanzey

posted:1/22/2012

excellent

Uhohmoosh0

posted:1/13/2012

Love this! I followed the recipe exactly and it was so good. Make sure you use fresh basil it makes all the difference!!

nhandwerk

posted:1/9/2012

So easy and so tasty! I used garlic cooking cream instead of plain. Will definitely make this again.

hwarrell

posted:1/6/2012

My family loved this. I am getting ready to make it for the second time. So good!

laceyv01

posted:12/14/2011

Delicious recipe! Even my some what picky kids ate it! I used dried basil instead of fresh. I'm not sure how much I used but I'd estimate maybe a tablespoon to 1.5 tablespoons. Will definately make again soon!

SC0727

posted:12/13/2011

It was delicious! I agree with katiec0213 that adding a little more sauce would be better. Also, I used Philly Sundried Tom cooking creme and I think it would be better with just the plain cooking creme. This recipe was so easy and will make it again!

katiec0213

posted:12/7/2011

This recipe was so easy!! My husband loved it. I think it would be even better with a little more sauce; maybe another half jar or so. Otherwise it was amazing. Thanks Kraft for making dinner planning a little easier.