Spinach Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce

Another delicious dish from SkinnyMom. This was perfect for a Sunday meal!

12 oz box jumbo shells pasta
10 oz bag frozen spinach
8 oz part-skim Ricotta cheese
¼ c Parmesan-Reggiano cheese, grated
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp low moisture, part-skim, shredded mozzarella cheese
2½ cups Skinny Meat Pasta Sauce (below)

Skinny Meat Pasta Sauce
1 lb lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 Tbsp minced onion
2 — 6 oz cans tomato paste
8 oz can tomato sauce, no salt added
14.5 oz can basil and oregano diced tomatoes
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
2 fresh basil leaves, snipped small
2 tsp Stevia (or sweetener of your choice)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder

Instructions for Meat Sauce:
In a large skillet, brown lean ground beef for 4-5 minutes. Add chopped onion, green pepper, and garlic and continue cooking meat until no longer pink and the onions and peppers start to soften. Next, add tomato paste, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes to meat and onions. Add in 1/4 cup water and stir sauce. Add garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and Stevia to sauce and stir until well mixed. Add in basil leaves and turn heat down to low. Cover and let simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Instructions for Shells:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Add pasta shells to boiling water and cook for 8-10 minutes until almost al dente. Drain pasta shells and spread pasta shells onto a sheet of wax paper to dry.

Place spinach in microwave and cook for 5-6 minutes as directed on package. Drain spinach and make sure to remove all of the moisture from spinach until it is dry. In a medium sized bowl, mix spinach, fat-free ricotta cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese, salt, garlic powder, and pepper.

Using a 9x13 casserole dish, spoon a small amount of Skinny Spaghetti and Meat Sauce to cover the bottom of dish.

Next, fill pasta shells with spinach mixture by using a spoon to place mixture inside each pasta shell.
Place filled pasta shells face up into casserole dish. Top filled pasta shells with Skinny Spaghetti Meat Sauce and sprinkle reduced-fat Mozzarella cheese on top. Heat pasta shells in oven for 15-20 minutes and serve hot.

Original recipe found here.