Description
Traeger Cheesy Italian Shells are a smoky, indulgent pasta dish featuring jumbo shells stuffed with a rich cheese blend, covered in marinara sauce, and smoked to melty, savory perfection.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 20 jumbo pasta shells
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup additional mozzarella for topping
- Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Traeger grill to 225°F (107°C) with oak or cherry pellets.
- Cook pasta shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain and let cool slightly.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder until well combined.
- Stuff each shell with the cheese mixture and place them in a grill-safe baking dish with a layer of marinara sauce on the bottom.
- Pour remaining marinara sauce over the stuffed shells and sprinkle with additional mozzarella cheese.
- Place the dish on the Traeger and smoke uncovered for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh basil before serving if desired.
Notes
- Use smoked mozzarella for an even deeper flavor.
- Add cooked Italian sausage or ground beef to the cheese filling for a meatier version.
- Cover with foil if the top starts browning too quickly.
- Great for leftovers — flavors intensify the next day!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 90mg