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?
Erin @ Stay at Home Yogi says
September 16, 2016 at 3:40 PMI 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.
Rebecca Bryant says
September 16, 2016 at 3:54 PMOMG this sounds amazing. I am shopping tomorrow for all the ingredients. We are having stuffed shells this week.
Alicia Taylor says
September 16, 2016 at 5:26 PMI 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!
Cynthia says
September 16, 2016 at 10:07 PMYou 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.
Marisa says
September 16, 2016 at 11:12 PMI 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!
Raquel says
September 17, 2016 at 9:46 AMI love pasta dishes and this just inspired me to make.
Syberyah says
September 9, 2019 at 5:35 PMDo I *have* to use fresh parsley or can it be.. Not fresh?
Milena Barrett says
September 10, 2019 at 7:01 PMYou can use dried herbs, no problem. The taste is just enhanced with fresh!
Heather says
September 17, 2016 at 10:04 AMOh 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!
Five Marigolds says
September 17, 2016 at 10:49 AMThis looks easy to make and my husband would love it!
Brittany Comeaux says
September 17, 2016 at 10:49 AMThis looks delicious! Definitely trying this!
Amanda says
September 17, 2016 at 1:30 PMYUMMY! GET in my belly!
Monica says
September 17, 2016 at 1:36 PMStuffed shells is one of my favorite pasta dishes! Never thought of using a slow cooker for it. Must try!
Sumer says
September 17, 2016 at 2:20 PMOh 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!
Leana Jay says
September 17, 2016 at 5:45 PMI’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!!
Lane & Holly @ With Two Spoons says
September 18, 2016 at 12:36 PMPinned…I am ALL about the slow cooker!
http://www.withtwospoons.com
Jen @ Saving with Spunk says
September 18, 2016 at 10:23 PMYumm! I did something similar to this with ziti. I will def try with shells!
G K says
October 15, 2016 at 8:40 PMI love Tortellini and Ravioli, but I’ve never had Stuffed Shells. These look delicious! Roasted garlic would add a nice touch as well.
Becky Isaac says
November 9, 2016 at 11:51 AMMy family loves stuffed shells, but I never knew I could make them in a crock pot! What a great recipe.
Cathy says
November 30, 2016 at 6:35 PMI’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. 🙂
Janet W. says
December 5, 2016 at 6:29 AMThis looks so flavorful! I’m always looking for new recipes to try in my slow cooker. This looks delicious!!
Cynthia R says
December 6, 2016 at 4:14 PMI 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.
Nancy Loring says
December 7, 2016 at 10:08 PMI 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.
Ellen says
December 26, 2016 at 4:44 PMThis 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!
rachel jenkins says
December 27, 2016 at 4:39 PMThese look absolutely amazing, i love slow cooker meals and I’m a sucker for some yummy stuffed shells!
carissa garabedian says
January 5, 2017 at 3:43 PMI 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
Heather Lawrence says
February 10, 2017 at 2:00 PMOh this is perfect for those busy days when you know that time is in high demand.
This dish looks delicious!
Margaret S Porter says
March 5, 2017 at 8:05 PMIm saving this one. I love slow cooker recipes!
Edye says
March 9, 2017 at 12:27 PMThese look yummy! Thanks for sharing.
cyndi br says
May 24, 2017 at 1:10 PMI will have to try this I always have baked mine
Julie Waldron says
May 24, 2017 at 5:00 PMThese look so good! My oldest daughter would love them.
Heather Lawrence says
June 19, 2017 at 4:29 PMThis 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.
Elisa says
September 16, 2017 at 4:51 PMI’m not much of a cook, but this recipe was pretty simple and came out fantastic. Thanks for sharing!
Milena Barrett says
September 17, 2017 at 8:56 AMThanks! I love hearing that!!!
Cathy says
October 30, 2017 at 12:58 PMI 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!
DonnaB says
April 4, 2018 at 9:31 PMMade this tonight, it was FABULOUS! Thanks so much, this will be made AGAIN and AGAIN…well you get the idea!
Milena Barrett says
April 5, 2018 at 11:15 AMIsn’t it great! Easy and yummy!
Marie says
June 21, 2018 at 4:57 AMI 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!
Milena Barrett says
June 21, 2018 at 6:33 AMIf 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!
Shannon says
October 10, 2018 at 7:38 PMJust 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!
Milena Barrett says
October 11, 2018 at 11:16 AMOh, I’ll have to try that! Sounds delish!
Laura says
November 2, 2018 at 11:00 PMThis looks delicious! Going to have to add this to my to-make list!
Robert Gehret says
January 28, 2019 at 2:12 PMI’m making this dish on the weekend…… I wanted your thoughts on adding ground beef to the cheese mixture…… Thanks
Milena Barrett says
January 28, 2019 at 6:51 PMI 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!