Are you looking for a delicious and easy Italian dinner that your family will love? Then try this Butternut Squash and Sausage Stuffed Shells recipe!
This easy pasta dish is packed full of sweet and savory flavors of Italian sausage, creamy butternut squash, and ricotta cheese inside comforting jumbo pasta shells, this dish is sure to become an instant classic in your home.
Perfect for any night of the week, these stuffed shells are a flavorful twist on traditional Italian cuisine.
Best of all, they come together quickly with minimal effort - you don't have to be a gourmet chef to whip up this delicious dinner! So gather your ingredients and let's get cooking!
You're going to love it!
Butternut Squash and Sausage Stuffed Shells is a delightful dish that combines the savory flavors of Italian sausage with the sweet, earthy taste of butternut squash.
The recipe is simple to follow and results in a meal that's both comforting and sophisticated, making it a great choice for weeknight dinners and special occasions alike.
Past recipes like Giant Cheese Stuffed Shells are perfect anytime of year, especially during the fall and winter months when you can add fall flavors of butternut squash and Italian sausage is at its peak.
Make it for a non traditional holiday meal or any time you are having the family over for dinner.
Pasta lovers are going to love this recipe!
Use Large Shells: The large shells are the perfect choice for this recipe. They're easy to stuff, and they hold the filling well. Be sure to cook them according to the manufacturer's instructions - you don't want them to be undercooked or overcooked.
Rinse the Cooked Shells: After cooking the shells, make sure to rinse them with cold water. The rinsing will remove some of the starch from the shells. This process will prevent the shells from sticking together when you stuff them with the filling.
Butternut Sausage Stuffed Shells Ingredients
👇See the step by step directions below!
- 1 lb. hot Italian sausage links
- 25 oz. jar Butternut Squash pasta sauce or make homemade butternut squash sauce.
- 12 oz. box large shell pasta, cooked, drained and rinsed well
- 1 large egg
- 8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese, divided in half
- 16 oz ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black, pepper
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 F. degrees.
- Remove the casing from the sausage and brown in a skillet. Break the sausage into crumbles as it cooks. Drain as much oil from the sausage once it is cooked through.
- Place the cooked sausage in a sauce pan and add the jar of pasta sauce. Heat until simmering. Reduce heat and keep warm while preparing the rest of the ingredients.
- Cook the large shells following the manufacturers directions for a baked dish. Drain the pasta and run cold water over the shells to remove some of the starch which will keep the shells from sticking together. Set aside.
- Divide the mozzarella cheese in half setting one half aside for topping the stuffed shells.
- In a large bowl beat the egg well.
- Add half the mozzarella cheese to the bowl, and add the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt and pepper.
- Mix well to combine.
- Spread half of the sauce mixture into the bottom of a lasagna pan.
- Arrange the cooked shell pasta in a single layer in the pan.
- Fill each shell with the ricotta cheese mixture.
- Drizzle remaining sauce over shells and top the shells with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Serves 6.
This Butternut Squash and Sausage Stuffed Shells recipe is a crowd pleaser.
This dish is perfect for family gatherings or even dinner parties. Give it a try and let us know what you think in the comments below!
📌Pro Cooking Tips
- Large Shells: Use large shells and do not overcook them.
- Italian sausage: I like spicy pork sausage in my stuffed shells. You can use pork, chicken or turkey sausage.
Email questions or recipe requests to flouronmyface@gmail.com. Follow me on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
Butternut Squash and Sausage Stuffed Shells
Ingredients
- 1 lb hot Italian sausage
- 25 oz Butternut Squash pasta sauce
- 12 oz large shell pasta (cooked, drained and rinsed well)
- 1 large egg
- 8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese (divided in half)
- 16 oz ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (minced)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black (pepper)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F. degrees.
- Remove the casing from the sausage and brown in a skillet. Break the sausage into crumbles as it cooks. Drain as much oil from the sausage once it is cooked through.
- Place the cooked sausage in a sauce pan and add the jar of pasta sauce. Heat until simmering. Reduce heat and keep warm while preparing the rest of the ingredients.
- Cook the large shells following the manufacturers directions for a baked dish. Drain the pasta and run cold water over the shells to remove some of the starch which will keep the shells from sticking together. Set aside.
- Divide the mozzarella cheese in half setting one half aside for topping the stuffed shells.
- In a large bowl beat the egg well.
- Add half the mozzarella cheese to the bowl, and add the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt and pepper. Mix well to combine.
- Spread half of the sauce mixture into the bottom of a lasagna pan. Arrange the cooked shell pasta in a single layer in the pan.
- Fill each shell with the ricotta cheese mixture.
- Drizzle remaining sauce over shells and top the shells with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes.
Recipe Expert Tips
- Large Shells: Use large shells and do not overcook them.
- Italian sausage: I like spicy pork sausage in my stuffed shells. You can use pork, chicken or turkey sausage.
Jessica Gipson
I love the stainless steel cheey wood lid, very nice!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/779896860443599117/
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy
This looks like the perfect pasta dish for feed a hungry crowd. I have a few Lagostina products....but NOT this cool one. Too bad I am in Canada....I would enter the contest.
Arlene Mobley
Sorry you have to miss out on the giveaway Gloria! Thanks maybe next time.
Denise Wright
Forgot to say how good the recipe looks. I haven't made stuffed shells in years....I'm going to have to try this with the butternut squash.
Arlene Mobley
Denise thank you!
Denise Wright
That really is a nice lasagna pan. My husband is embarrassed at how "lovingly used" my pots and pans are. I really hope I win this pan! My pin url is https://www.pinterest.com/pin/94857135886154911/ and I really like the stainless steel finish. It looks so luxurious and the wooded lid is very cool.
Arlene Mobley
Denise it sounds like it's time for an upgrade. Good luck!
Annette
I like this feature: 18/10 stainless-steel construction with mirror-polished exterior. I use mostly 18/10 stainless cookware with it even heating. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/245446248425650285/
Jolina
This looks amazing! It's perfect for weeknights as well as for company. And I love the combination of Italian sausage and butternut squash pasta sauce. Yum.
Arlene Mobley
Jolina thank you. The flavor combo of the sausage and butternut squash is amazing.
Jeffrey
I love that the Lagostina Heritage Lasagna pan comes with a lid!
Link to my pin: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/122371314858737947/.
Kimberly M
I love that it has a lid. Many times I am serving multiple goodies for dinner and by the time you get everything done the food is cold or luke warm. I also love the size.
Here is my pin https://www.pinterest.com/pin/24488391707932732/
Kayley
My favorite part of the pan is the Ergonomic cast stainless-steel handles! My pin is here: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/535154368213632634/
Patti Mcloughlin
Where do you get the butternut squash pasta sauce.
Thank you
Patti McLoughlin
Arlene Mobley
Hi Patty I found it at Target it is the David Gourmet brand.
Angela Hendricks
I love that this pan has a Solid cherry wood and stainless-steel lid. Very pretty and looks fancy!
Angela Hendricks
The link to my pin is
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/230739180892338238/
Tamra Phelps
Even though I really like that cherry wood lid, my favorite thing is the handles on the pan. I make lasagna often, & it can be heavy & hot & it comes right up to the top of the pan. I'm always touching the lasagna with the potholders & getting them dirty. Having handles on a lasagna pan would be great! Here is the URL of my Pinterest pin of the pan --- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/559572322442932247/
Leslie
My favorite features of this pan are the size/dimensions. Also, while I have some glass or ceramic pans this size, it is nice to have a nonbreakable option for cooking when you might have liquid drippings or you might need to add liquid when thep an is hot.
I am sorry I have no experience with pinterest, so I cannot complete those entries.
Brenda Haines
I love the solid cherry wood stainless steel lid.
Brenda Haines
Here's my pinterest pin. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/330381322657048401/