Name: Baked Baby Shell Pasta with Pork Ragu
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h 50 min
Cuisine: American, Italian
Ingredients: Pork Ragu; 1/2 cup olive oil; 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped; 2 carrots, finely chopped; 4 minced fresh cloves of garlic; 2 celery stalks, finely chopped; 2 teaspoons fennel seeds; 11 1/2 pounds of ground pork; 1 cup dry red wine; 2 cans of San Marzano crushed tomatoes with juice (28 - ounce size); 1 small can of tomato paste ( 6 -ounces); 1 pound baby shells; 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese; 1 - 15 ounce container of whole milk ricotta; 2 cups whole milk shredded whole milk mozzarella (more for the top around 1/2 cup)

Baked Baby Shell Pasta with Pork Ragu is a layered baked pasta casserole with sauteed minced vegetables, seasoned pork with fennel in a rich tomato sauce simmered then layered with cheese and baked.

The tomato sauce is rich with meat and simmered slowly for a little over an hour and can be used with any pasta dish without a casserole layering.

Over the years it's been recreated several times and adapted to individual taste and added to baked lasagna, baked ziti, or other baked pasta recipes.

This sauce freezes well and can be used in so many other ways soups, stews, casseroles, and making large batches come in really handy in a pinch.

Our rich tomato sauce will bring a new love to tomato sauce with all it's robust flavors and is a hearty dish when baked together with the ricotta just like a lasagna but easier with loose pasta instead of long noodles.

Of course, if your love Italian tomato sauce you may also like to try our Traditional Sunday Sauce, it's another vintage family recipe.

Scroll down to the easy recipe card to print off and don't forget to read all our tips and suggestions.

Ragu Sauce

Pork Ragu sauce is a chunky meat sauce with fennel which makes a rich-tasting tomato sauce seasoning with sauteed onions, garlic, and carrots.

We also love our Homemade Cavatelli pasta recipe with this Ragu or Homemade Gnocci.

Putting some vegetables in with the meat brings the flavor over the top and the sauce gives it a wonderful flavor and is perfect for baked casseroles for an all-in-one pan meal

this is a pan of fresh tomatoes with meat in it called bolognese sauce to go on top of pasta

Other Cooking Methods

Slow Cooker: place on low for only 4-6 hours, you will need to saute the meats and vegetables before adding to the sauce
Instant Pot: sear the meats with the vegetables first use the slow cooker mode 4-6 hours on low
Dutch Oven Method: use a heavy cast iron pot, saute the vegetables and meat in the pot, add the tomatoes bake at 200 degrees for around 3 hours, same instructions
Stovetop: follow the original instructions in the recipe card

this is fried loose sausage and ground beef for making a bolognese tomato sauce also has fresh garlic, onions and carrots

Ingredients You Will Need(for exact measurements scroll down to the recipe card)

pasta of your choice
crushed tomato
tomato paste
dry red wine
fresh garlic
salt, pepper
fresh basil
carrots, celery leaves, onion
ground pork, ground beef
mozzarella whole milk
ricotta
Optional Garnish: red pepper flakes and more Parmesano Reggiano cheese, parsley, fresh basil leaves

this is a ragu made with fresh tomatoes and vegetables to make a tomato sauce topping for pasta

Pasta Suggestions

rigatoni
bowties
mostaccioli
fusilli
[penne
spirals
for a nonbaked casserole best to use thick pasta noodles the sauce clings better:
low carb, whole wheat, egg noodles or vegetable pasta like spinach fettuccini

More Recipes We Love

Chicken Potatoes Pizza Style Casserole
Mac and Cheese Chicken Casserole
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
Tuna Noodle Casserole from Scratch
Eggplant Casserole Recipes

baby shells baked with pork ragu, baked shells lasagna, baby shell pasta casserole

pasta casseroles, ragu recipes, tomato sauce recipes, baked pasta recipes

American, Italian

Yield: 12

Author: Claudia Lamascolo