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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sarahtw

posted:12/7/2011

This was delicious, even as leftovers! My pickiest eater LOVED it!

ruthie_49

posted:12/6/2011

This was super easy and makes enough for another meal which makes it very economical too. I plan to try it with chicken and alfredo sauce too.

a cook

posted:12/6/2011

I used the Phildelphia Tomato and Basil Cooking Creme instead of the Original. I also used the same pot to mix the pasta with the remaining ingredients instead of a large bowl( saved time on cleaning). It came out great.Everyone loved it. I hope when I get home today,that there are still left overs for me to eat.

a cook

posted:12/6/2011

Everyone in my family likes this! And we are very picky. My husband prefers it over Stouffer's Lasagna. It will be a must on my monthly menu.

gitterbug

posted:12/6/2011

we really like this recipie it was quick and easy. THe one thing i woul cahnge it i think it needs more sauce it ws a little dry

jlf7473

posted:11/25/2011

I thought 4 cups of pasta was a bit much for only a 1 lb of meat sauce. I might half it next time. Otherwise it was great.

mrscandib

posted:11/19/2011

I will be making this many times. The family LOVED it!!

a cook

posted:11/16/2011

I made mine with spinach & mushrooms to make it more of a florentine since I had it in the fridge/freezer & came out wonderfully - family even finished the leftovers!

a cook

posted:11/8/2011

Very good. Halfed the recipe, enough for two meals.

a cook

posted:11/7/2011

The neighbors, their kids, and my hubby all loved it.