Español Grow This

Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells

A rich, creamy recipe that combines fall flavors with satisfying pasta.
Plate of pasta shells filled with pumpkin and cheese filling over red pasta sauce.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Makes: 12 Filled Shells
Nutrition Facts: View label

Ingredients

12 jumbo pasta shells (about 6 ounces)
1 ¼ cups nonfat ricotta cheese
¾ cup pumpkin 
½ teaspoon garlic powder or 2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons basil
¼ teaspoon sage
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
1 cup pasta sauce

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Rinse or scrub fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
  4. Cook pasta shells according to package directions. Drain and place each on a baking sheet to cool.
  5. In a medium bowl, stir together ricotta, pumpkin, spices and all but 1 Tablespoon of the cheese. Reserve the 1 Tablespoon cheese for topping.
  6. Spread pasta sauce in the bottom of a baking dish that holds all the shells in a single layer. Fill each shell with about 3 Tablespoons of pumpkin mixture and place shells close together on top of the sauce.
  7. Cover pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake for 15 minutes more.
  8. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

  • Freeze unused pumpkin and add to soup, chili or pancake recipes.

Comments

Submitted by lkraemer on Thu, 12/18/2014 - 13:57

These are so good and easy to double or triple the recipe for lots of left overs.

Submitted by tierrabonita on Mon, 05/06/2013 - 04:15
This is my fav Food Hero recipe so far! LOVE it as does everyone who tries it. Interestingly you can't really taste the pumpkin but the filling sure is tasty! And we double the recipe and end up with some extra shells and ricotta and tomato sauce and parm which works great for a separate small pan of cheese shells on the side.... Also if its in your garden using fresh herbs really ramps up the taste even more!
Submitted by healthycook on Wed, 11/14/2012 - 15:06

These were super yummy and look impressive despite the ease of preparation.  A perfect dish to make with leftover pumpkin puree.

You might also like...

Recipes A to Z (without photos)

Cranberry-Orange Relish
Bowl of cranberry relish served with a pancake.

Cranberry-Orange Relish

Serve with this sweet-tart relish with dinner, breakfast or as a tasty snack.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Makes:
2 ½ cups
Greens with Carrots
Plate of kale and carrot strips with dressing.

Greens with Carrots

A fresh and crunchy salad using your favorite greens.
Prepare:
20 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
4 cups
Smashed Garbanzo Bean Salad
Bread topped with Smashed Garbanzo Bean Salad

Smashed Garbanzo Bean Salad

Garbanzo beans and crunchy vegetables make a delicious sandwich filling or chunky dip.
Prepare:
20 minutes
Makes:
3 cups
Ginger Almond Asparagus
Sauteed asparagus slices with slivered almonds in a small bowl.

Ginger Almond Asparagus

A healthy vegetable side dish that combines sauteed asparagus with crunchy almonds.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
2 Cups
Reduced-Fat Chorizo
Bowl of chorizo shown served with a fresh salad.

Reduced-Fat Chorizo

Thanks to the OSU Extension Latin Heritage workgroup for this recipe. Using lower fat meats reduces saturated fat for heart health.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
12 servings
Overnight Oatmeal
Ceramic bowl with creamy oatmeal topped with raspberries and blueberries.

Overnight Oatmeal

Quick and easy make-ahead breakfast recipe that can be easily customized with your favorite fruit.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
6-12 hours
Makes:
4 cups