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Baked pumpkin stuffed shells topped with cheese and herbs.

Pumpkin Stuffed Shells

A delightful and comforting dish that features creamy, cheesy filled pasta shells with the rich flavors of pumpkin and spices, perfect for family dinners and gatherings.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 400

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Filling
  • 12 ounces Jumbo Pasta Shells
  • 15 ounces Pure Pumpkin Puree Not pie filling
  • 15 ounces Ricotta Cheese
  • 1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese Divided
  • 2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
  • 1 large Egg Lightly beaten
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Sage Or 1 tablespoon fresh chopped sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
Sauce
  • 2 cups Alfredo Sauce or Marinara Sauce For layering
Garnish
  • Fresh parsley Optional, for garnish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the jumbo shells according to the package directions for 'al dente.' Drain and rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking.
  3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, ricotta cheese, half of the parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, sage, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Mix well until smooth.
  4. Spread about 1/2 cup of sauce over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Stuffing and Baking
  1. Fill each cooked shell with a generous amount of the pumpkin cheese mixture and place them open-side up in the baking dish.
  2. Pour the remaining sauce over the stuffed shells and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese and remaining parmesan on top.
  3. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
  4. Remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling.
  5. Let the shells stand for 5 minutes before serving.
  6. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Cook the pasta shells just until al dente to prevent breaking. You can customize the flavors by adding spices or using different types of cheeses.
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