This school year I’m all about meal planning and family meals. Taking a look back at our finances we spent entirely too much money eating out and on the run. When your kids have after-school activities, sports, and whatever else life throws at you eating out just happens. Not anymore! Probably one of the most stressful things for me besides driving, is getting dinner on the table and eating together as a family when all these activities occur. Sometimes you just can’t help eating on the run, but I’m trying to simplify life this year. I’m going to be doing a ton of freezer cooking, meal planning and using my slow cooker to death! This weeks new meal was Stuffed Shells with Spinach in my slow cooker!
The best part of this recipe is that you put the shells in raw! There is no pre-cooking of any of the ingredients required! This is a such a big time saver and if you have ever made stuffed shells it’s kind of pain in the ass to stuff cooked pasta. Stuffing raw pasta is so much easier, and faster. The con of this dish is that it’s hard to make it look pretty when you scoop it out of the slow cooker. It can be done, but very carefully!
Here is a pic of one of the plates that I served the boys the other night! The pasta cooked perfectly for me. We loved how it turned out. Let me know if you give it a try!
- 1 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry ( or omit to make plain!)
- 1 container (12 ounces) ricotta cheese
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided (1 cup is used on top the completes dish)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (in a pinch use garlic powder)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 28 jumbo pasta shells (raw)
- 2 jars (24 ounces each) tomato sauce (Or you can use homemade like I did!)
- Chopped parsley ( Use fresh or omit!)
- In a large bowl, stir spinach, ricotta cheese, 2 cups mozzarella cheese, Parmesan, garlic and Italian seasoning.( I didn't have any Italian seasoning so I used Greek and it was awesome!)
- Fill each raw pasta shell with ricotta mixture.
- Add 3 cups sauce to the bottom of the crock. (This is how the pasta cooks!)
- Place ½ of the stuffed shells in the bottom of the crock. Cover with 2 cups tomato sauce.
- Layer with remaining stuffed shells and sauce.
- Cover slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours or LOW for 6 to 8 until shells are cooked. Once cooked remove lid and add 1 cup mozzarella cheese over shells. Wait until cheese is melted. Garnish with fresh parsley with you like!
Don’t forget to Pin this to your board and let me know if you give it a try! I’m starting a brand new board called Mom’s Tried & True Recipes. These are going to be all recipes that I actually use in my every day life! So follow me on Pinterest! Happy Pinning!
Have you cooked pasta in a slow cooker? How did it work for you?
I am absolutely going to try this! I love that the shells go in raw, how easy is that? We waste the most money on food too and I really need to buckle down and cook more.
OMG this sounds amazing. I am shopping tomorrow for all the ingredients. We are having stuffed shells this week.
I have never thought about doing stuffed shells in a crockpot! I always avoid making them because it’s hard to stuff cooked shells – but this makes sense! Thank you!
You have combined tow of my favorites – my slow cooker and Italian food. I really need to give this recipe a try. I love stuffed shells.
I am guilty of not cooking as much as I should. I need to utilize my slow cooker more and this is definitely one recipe I would like to try. Looks delicious!
I love pasta dishes and this just inspired me to make.
Do I *have* to use fresh parsley or can it be.. Not fresh?
You can use dried herbs, no problem. The taste is just enhanced with fresh!
Oh my goodness so excited to try this! All the prep work is one reason I NEVER make stuffed shells..but in the slow cooker? Love this!
This looks easy to make and my husband would love it!
This looks delicious! Definitely trying this!
YUMMY! GET in my belly!
Stuffed shells is one of my favorite pasta dishes! Never thought of using a slow cooker for it. Must try!
Oh my! This looks awesome and super easy, too! I’ve never thought to make pasta in the slow cooker. Definitely going to pin this to make very soon!
I’m so gonna try this!! I just bought a crock pot and was looking for recipes to try instead of the usual beef stew. Thank you!!
Pinned…I am ALL about the slow cooker!
http://www.withtwospoons.com
Yumm! I did something similar to this with ziti. I will def try with shells!
I love Tortellini and Ravioli, but I’ve never had Stuffed Shells. These look delicious! Roasted garlic would add a nice touch as well.
My family loves stuffed shells, but I never knew I could make them in a crock pot! What a great recipe.
I’ve never cooked pasta in the slow cooker, but this sounds like such a great recipe! I especially love that you don’t have to cook the pasta first – I think this would be perfect for football Sunday. 🙂
This looks so flavorful! I’m always looking for new recipes to try in my slow cooker. This looks delicious!!
I love stuffed sheels, I normally make it in the oven or I buy from Sam’s club and reheat in the oven (just as good) but I never imagined the crock pot.
I love using my crock pot but I have never thought to make stuffed shells in it. The thought of having supper done for the family when I get home from work sounds so nice.
This recipe looks delicious! I’m always looking for slow cooker meals. Stuffed shells are a favorite in our house. This is definitely going into the “to try” file for a busy night!
These look absolutely amazing, i love slow cooker meals and I’m a sucker for some yummy stuffed shells!
I have never tried pasta in a slow cooker, I think this could work because the shells are a much firmer and thicker pasta. My kids love stuffed shells and I do not make them often because they are so much work . You may have solved that for me! Thanks
Oh this is perfect for those busy days when you know that time is in high demand.
This dish looks delicious!
Im saving this one. I love slow cooker recipes!
These look yummy! Thanks for sharing.
I will have to try this I always have baked mine
These look so good! My oldest daughter would love them.
This recipe looks delicious!
I am going to have to give this recipe a try, what a great go to recipe when it’s just too dang hot out to cook but you don’t want to fire up the BBQ.
I’m not much of a cook, but this recipe was pretty simple and came out fantastic. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks! I love hearing that!!!
I have a vowed to use my slow cooker more this fall/winter and this recipe is perfect because it sounds super easy AND I know my family will love it. Thank you!
Made this tonight, it was FABULOUS! Thanks so much, this will be made AGAIN and AGAIN…well you get the idea!
Isn’t it great! Easy and yummy!
I prefer to use fresh spinach, is that doable? And if so how much? I’m making this tomorrow. Looks super easy. Can’t rate it yet but I will after we have it. Thank you!
If you are cooking the spinach I would use the same amount 1 cup. Make sure it’s well drained! Can’t wait to hear about it!
Just made this and it was phenomenal! I decided to make my own tomato sauce which I added ground turkey to. My family likes Greek style tomato sauce so I also used Greek seasoning in the shell mixture. Prep took me more like 45 minutes but it was a cinch to put together and just perfectly done after 3 hours on high. Thanks for this yummy dish!
Oh, I’ll have to try that! Sounds delish!
This looks delicious! Going to have to add this to my to-make list!
I’m making this dish on the weekend…… I wanted your thoughts on adding ground beef to the cheese mixture…… Thanks
I haven’t done it, but I don’t see a problem with it as long as the meat has been cooked. Keep me posted on the outcome!
Do you think you can make this ahead of time and refrigerate for a couple days before cooking?
I’m not sure. I would think that even though the pasta is dry it would get soggy sitting overnight. Maybe try stuffing a couple and see how it works?