Crock Pot Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells

Dive into comfort food bliss with these Crock Pot Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells—a slow-cooker masterpiece that combines creamy ricotta, melted mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses with nutrient-packed spinach, all delicately stuffed into tender jumbo pasta shells. Nestled in layers of rich marinara sauce and gently cooked to perfection, this vegetarian dish is a hands-off dinner hero, perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends. With minimal prep and a cozy blend of Italian seasoning, garlic, and cheese, each bite is a flavor-packed indulgence. Garnished with fresh basil and oozing with cheesy goodness, this easy crock pot recipe serves up to six and is sure to become a family favorite.

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:25 mins

Cook Time:240 mins

Total Time:265 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 20 Jumbo pasta shells
• 2 cups Ricotta cheese
• 1.5 cups Shredded mozzarella cheese
• 0.5 cups Grated Parmesan cheese
• 10 ounces Frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 Egg
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 0.5 teaspoons Salt
• 0.25 teaspoons Black pepper
• 4 cups Marinara sauce
• 2 tablespoons Fresh basil, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the jumbo pasta shells for 2 minutes less than the package instructions to ensure they are slightly undercooked. Drain and set aside to cool slightly.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, thawed and drained spinach, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir until evenly mixed and creamy.

Step 3

Pour 2 cups of marinara sauce into the bottom of a 6-quart crock pot, spreading it evenly to create a base layer.

Step 4

Using a spoon, fill each cooked pasta shell with the cheese and spinach mixture. Be generous but careful not to overfill to avoid breakage.

Step 5

Arrange the stuffed pasta shells in the crock pot in a single layer, seam-side up. If necessary, create an additional layer by spooning another cup of marinara sauce over the first layer of shells before adding the second layer.

Step 6

Pour the remaining marinara sauce evenly over the top of the shells, ensuring they are fully covered. This helps prevent them from drying out during cooking.

Step 7

Sprinkle the remaining 0.5 cup of mozzarella cheese over the top of the marinara sauce.

Step 8

Cover the crock pot with the lid and cook on low heat for 4 hours, or until the shells are heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Step 9

Turn off the crock pot and let the dish rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh basil, if desired.

Step 10

Serve warm and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(4810.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	6092.3

Total Fat 153.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 72.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.7g
Cholesterol 658.0mg	0%
Sodium 5193.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 920.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 55.2g	0%
Total Sugars 61.7g
Protein 276.4g	0%

Vitamin D 48IU	0%
Calcium 4388.8mg	0%
Iron 45.0mg	0%
Potassium 3121.3mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 22.4%

Protein: 17.9%

Carbs: 59.7%