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Stuffed Shells in a Slow Cooker #Foodie #SlowCooker

September 16, 2016 By Milena Barrett

stuffed shells

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!

stuffed shells

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!

stuffed shells

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!

5.0 from 7 reviews
Stuffed Shells in a Slow Cooker
 
Print
Prep time
15 mins
Total time
15 mins
 
No pre-cooking of the past happening here! Everything cooks right in the slow cooker!
Author: Milena Barrett
Recipe type: Slow Cooker
Serves: 8 servings
Ingredients
  • 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!)
Instructions
  1. 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!)
  2. Fill each raw pasta shell with ricotta mixture.
  3. Add 3 cups sauce to the bottom of the crock. (This is how the pasta cooks!)
  4. Place ½ of the stuffed shells in the bottom of the crock. Cover with 2 cups tomato sauce.
  5. Layer with remaining stuffed shells and sauce.
  6. 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!
3.5.3208

stuffed shells

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?

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: Crockpot, meal planning

Comments

  1. Erin @ Stay at Home Yogi says

    September 16, 2016 at 3:40 PM

    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.

  2. Rebecca Bryant says

    September 16, 2016 at 3:54 PM

    OMG this sounds amazing. I am shopping tomorrow for all the ingredients. We are having stuffed shells this week.

  3. Alicia Taylor says

    September 16, 2016 at 5:26 PM

    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!

  4. Cynthia says

    September 16, 2016 at 10:07 PM

    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.

  5. Marisa says

    September 16, 2016 at 11:12 PM

    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!

  6. Raquel says

    September 17, 2016 at 9:46 AM

    I love pasta dishes and this just inspired me to make.

    • Syberyah says

      September 9, 2019 at 5:35 PM

      Do I *have* to use fresh parsley or can it be.. Not fresh?

      • Milena Barrett says

        September 10, 2019 at 7:01 PM

        You can use dried herbs, no problem. The taste is just enhanced with fresh!

  7. Heather says

    September 17, 2016 at 10:04 AM

    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!

  8. Five Marigolds says

    September 17, 2016 at 10:49 AM

    This looks easy to make and my husband would love it!

  9. Brittany Comeaux says

    September 17, 2016 at 10:49 AM

    This looks delicious! Definitely trying this!

  10. Amanda says

    September 17, 2016 at 1:30 PM

    YUMMY! GET in my belly!

  11. Monica says

    September 17, 2016 at 1:36 PM

    Stuffed shells is one of my favorite pasta dishes! Never thought of using a slow cooker for it. Must try!

  12. Sumer says

    September 17, 2016 at 2:20 PM

    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!

  13. Leana Jay says

    September 17, 2016 at 5:45 PM

    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!!

  14. Lane & Holly @ With Two Spoons says

    September 18, 2016 at 12:36 PM

    Pinned…I am ALL about the slow cooker!

    http://www.withtwospoons.com

  15. Jen @ Saving with Spunk says

    September 18, 2016 at 10:23 PM

    Yumm! I did something similar to this with ziti. I will def try with shells!

  16. G K says

    October 15, 2016 at 8:40 PM

    I love Tortellini and Ravioli, but I’ve never had Stuffed Shells. These look delicious! Roasted garlic would add a nice touch as well.

  17. Becky Isaac says

    November 9, 2016 at 11:51 AM

    My family loves stuffed shells, but I never knew I could make them in a crock pot! What a great recipe.

  18. Cathy says

    November 30, 2016 at 6:35 PM

    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. 🙂

  19. Janet W. says

    December 5, 2016 at 6:29 AM

    This looks so flavorful! I’m always looking for new recipes to try in my slow cooker. This looks delicious!!

  20. Cynthia R says

    December 6, 2016 at 4:14 PM

    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.

  21. Nancy Loring says

    December 7, 2016 at 10:08 PM

    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.

  22. Ellen says

    December 26, 2016 at 4:44 PM

    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!

  23. rachel jenkins says

    December 27, 2016 at 4:39 PM

    These look absolutely amazing, i love slow cooker meals and I’m a sucker for some yummy stuffed shells!

  24. carissa garabedian says

    January 5, 2017 at 3:43 PM

    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

  25. Heather Lawrence says

    February 10, 2017 at 2:00 PM

    Oh this is perfect for those busy days when you know that time is in high demand.
    This dish looks delicious!

  26. Margaret S Porter says

    March 5, 2017 at 8:05 PM

    Im saving this one. I love slow cooker recipes!

  27. Edye says

    March 9, 2017 at 12:27 PM

    These look yummy! Thanks for sharing.

  28. cyndi br says

    May 24, 2017 at 1:10 PM

    I will have to try this I always have baked mine

  29. Julie Waldron says

    May 24, 2017 at 5:00 PM

    These look so good! My oldest daughter would love them.

  30. Heather Lawrence says

    June 19, 2017 at 4:29 PM

    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.

  31. Elisa says

    September 16, 2017 at 4:51 PM

    I’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 AM

      Thanks! I love hearing that!!!

  32. Cathy says

    October 30, 2017 at 12:58 PM

    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!

  33. DonnaB says

    April 4, 2018 at 9:31 PM

    Made 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 AM

      Isn’t it great! Easy and yummy!

  34. Marie says

    June 21, 2018 at 4:57 AM

    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!

    • Milena Barrett says

      June 21, 2018 at 6:33 AM

      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!

  35. Shannon says

    October 10, 2018 at 7:38 PM

    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!

    • Milena Barrett says

      October 11, 2018 at 11:16 AM

      Oh, I’ll have to try that! Sounds delish!

  36. Laura says

    November 2, 2018 at 11:00 PM

    This looks delicious! Going to have to add this to my to-make list!

  37. Robert Gehret says

    January 28, 2019 at 2:12 PM

    I’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 PM

      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!

  38. Nicole Foulks says

    January 15, 2022 at 11:46 AM

    Do you think you can make this ahead of time and refrigerate for a couple days before cooking?

    • Milena Barrett says

      January 17, 2022 at 7:44 AM

      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?

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