This post contains affiliate links
I realize that for the past two years or so, Instant Pot has been all the rage. People tell me that they don’t even use their slow cookers anymore. Can I tell you something that an Instant Pot can’t do? There is still something about having the slow cooker on while reading and enjoying a warm drink on a cold and rainy day. And we have had plenty of those lately.
Even though I share recipes for a living, I still like to be no-fuss about dinner. When I make something in my slow cooker, I want the meal to be a one-pot meal. ( I did cook and drain my meat beforehand though) So I made sure NOT to cook my shells before putting them in my slow cooker. If you’re going to make stuffed shells with this no-bake option, you should make sure to use enough sauce for the shells to cook in.
Here is what you need to make No-Bake Slow Cooker Stuffed Shells.
- A slow cooker, I prefer the casserole slow cooker
, but any kind will work.
- Jumbo Shells
– any brand will work
- Two jars of marinara sauce. I love the ALDI organic marinara sauce because it has no sugar.
- Ricotta Cheese
- Ground meat, beef, pork Italian sausage. OR spinach and vegetables if you want to go meatless!
- One egg, and that’s it!
No-Bake Slow Cooker Stuffed Shells
Ingredients
- 1 12 ounce Container of jumbo shells
- 2 26 ounce jars of your favorite marinara sauce
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage or ground beef
- 1 15 ounce container of Ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
-
Cook meat and drain. Set aside.
-
Set your slow cooker to low.
-
Add one jar of marinara sauce to the bottom of your slow cooker.
-
Arrange all the shells, opening faxing up at the bottom of your slow cooker.
-
In a mixing bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, meat, the egg, and any other preferred fillings
-
Using a small cookie scoop, or spoon, fill each shell with the ricotta-meat mixture.
-
Pour the second jar of marinara sauce over the stuffed shells.
-
Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
-
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the stuffed shells a few minutes before serving.
These stuffed shells were a huge hit with my family and a real treat! ( as I haven’t been making much pasta since being on the whole 30
over the summer)
You can also obviously switch up the flavors. Pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, pizza toppings, vegetables, or chicken would also make an excellent filling for stuffed shells. You can also try it with alfredo sauce instead of red sauce as well!
