Yield: 6 servings (4 stuffed shells per serving)

Protein: ~42-46g per serving

Ingredients


Pasta
24 jumbo pasta shells
Salted water for boiling
High-Protein Filling
1 lb (450g) lean ground beef (93% lean)
1 cup (225g) low-fat cottage cheese
1 cup (120g) part-skim shredded mozzarella
½ cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp salt


Sauce


3 cups marinara or meat pasta sauce
½ tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp garlic powder
Topping
2 cups (225g) part-skim shredded mozzarella
¼ cup grated Parmesan
Fresh parsley (optional)


Instructions

  1. Cook the Shells
    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
    Cook jumbo shells until al dente (about 2 minutes less than package directions).
    Drain and rinse with cold water.
  2. Cook the Beef
    Brown the lean ground beef over medium heat.
    Drain any excess fat.
    Stir in Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
    Let cool slightly.
  3. Make the Filling

In a large bowl combine:

Cooked ground beef
Cottage cheese
1 cup mozzarella
Parmesan
Egg
Parsley

Mix until evenly combined.

  1. Assemble
    Spread 1½ cups marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
    Fill each shell generously with the beef mixture.
    Arrange shells in the dish as shown in the picture.
    Spoon the remaining marinara sauce over the center of the shells.
    Sprinkle evenly with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
  2. Bake
    Cover with foil.
    Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25 minutes.
    Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
    Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
    Air Fryer Version

If using a basket-style air fryer:

Place 4-6 assembled shells in a small air fryer-safe baking dish.
Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes covered with foil.
Remove the foil and cook another 3-5 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
Approximate Nutrition (Per Serving)
Calories: 500-540
Protein: 42-46g
Carbohydrates: 35-40g
Fat: 18-20g
Fiber: 3-4g
Extra Protein Tips

For an even higher-protein version (around 50g per serving):

Mix ½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt into the filling with the cottage cheese.
Replace half of the mozzarella in the filling with reduced-fat mozzarella.
Use a high-protein pasta if available. This can add another 8-12g of protein per serving