Slow Cooker Stuffed Shells

Calling all pasta lovers! Slow Cooker Stuffed Shells are made in the crockpot and are filled with gooey cheese and savory marinara.

Slow cooker stuffed shells make an easy and delicious dinner. They’re a great way to use up leftover pasta sauce, and they’re perfect for feeding a crowd.

I really love this dinner recipe because not only is it easy, but it keeps me from running the oven – keeping my energy costs low. Plus – it’s crazy delicious too.

Don’t miss my traditional stuffed shells recipe or my chicken alfredo stuffed shells.

I think you’ll really love this recipe because you can prep it during lunchtime and then let the cooker do its thing. No need to tend to it all day.

Plus, this is easily adaptable making it simple to adjust for different cravings, or maybe you want to make it meat-free. That’s easy to do and everyone loves it. This is great for bringing to a potluck or other gathering.

I really love to make this when taking meals to families in need. Maybe they just had a new baby or another event in their lives and they don’t have a lot of time to cook. You can whip this up, pair it with some bread and they have an easy meal.

stuffed shells with ground beef

Here are some commonly asked questions

Can these be made ahead of time?

Yes – generally you will want to keep the ingredients separate in the refrigerator until you are ready to assemble. But having the shells already cooked and in the fridge does save some time.

What are stuffed shells?

Stuffed shells are a type of pasta dish that is made by stuffing cooked pasta shells with a variety of fillings, such as ground beef, sausage, vegetables, or cheese. The stuffed shells are then typically baked in the oven until they are heated through and the cheese is melted. However, you can also cook them in the crockpot for an easy and fuss-free dinner.

stuffed shells recipe

Ingredients for Stuffed Shells

• jumbo pasta shells
• ricotta cheese
• shredded mozzarella cheese – shredded & divided
• frozen spinach – cooked and drained
• egg
• pasta sauce
• ground sausage – browned and drained
• parmesan cheese and parsley for topping

How long can these be made ahead of time?

These shells can be made and kept on the warm setting for up to 2 hours before serving. I try not to let them go for longer than that because the pasta tends to fall apart when it is cooked too long.

crock pot stuffed shells

How to Make Stuffed Shells

1. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta to al dente. Keep in mind that these need to be super undercooked, they will cook more in the slow cooker. They just need to be pliable enough to fill them, you don’t want them to fall apart. Drain and set aside.
2. Meanwhile in a large bowl combine your ricotta cheese, spinach, 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese and egg. Stir to combine well.
3. Spread just a bit of the sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker.
4. Spoon the ricotta mixture into the cooked shells.
5. Place the stuffed shells into the slow cooker. You can stack them to fit them all.
6. Add the browned, drained sausage all over the shells.
7. Next spread the remaining sauce all over the top.
8. Cook on low for 3-4 hours until bubbly.
9. During the last 30 minutes of cooking, top with the remaining shredded cheese.
10. Sprinkle with parmesan and parsley and serve!

Can these be frozen for later?

I personally don’t like to freeze pasta because of what it does to the texture. However – my friends say that if you transfer the cooked shells to a foil pan, cover with the remaining sauce, and then cover before freezing – you can freeze for up to 4 months. To bake from frozen, just place the frozen pan in a 350-degree oven and cook for about 1 hour with the foil on.

stuffed shells recipe

What to serve with stuffed shells

While these are a main dish, there are a couple of recipes we like to serve alongside this delicious dinner.

• Crusty Artisan Bread
• Garlic parmesan Pull-Apart Biscuits
• 30-Minute Garlic Parmesan Dinner Rolls
• Homemade French Bread
• Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks

Recipe Variations

Adapt this recipe – you can change up the type of cheese, the type of protein, or even adding veggies to make it completely different.

stuffed shells with meat recipe

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If you love this Easy Stuffed Shells recipe, you’re going to love these other treats too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

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