Best Baked Shells With Winter Squash Recipes

BUTTERNUT SQUASH-STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Add the squash, shallot and garlic to a baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil and toss to combine. Sprinkle with the thyme, sage, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and toss again. Roast until the squash is tender and light golden, about 30 minutes. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt. Add the pasta shells and cook until al dente according to the package directions. Drain and let cool.
• Squeeze the roasted garlic into a small food processor or blender, add the squash, shallot and vegetable broth and puree until smooth.
• Mix together the spinach, cream cheese, ricotta, red pepper flakes, 2/3 cup of the Parmesan and 1 tablespoon salt in a large bowl. Stuff about 2 tablespoons of the spinach mixture into each shell; set aside.
• Add the pureed squash mixture, heavy cream and butter to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, whisking frequently, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the nutmeg, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the remaining 1 1/3 cups Parmesan.
• Spread the cheese sauce into the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange the stuffed shells in the baking dish seam-side up, shingling them so they all fit (you should have 5 shells along the short side and 6 shells along the long side). Top with the mozzarella. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes. Top with more Parmesan and sage before serving.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH CASSEROLE IN THE SHELL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place squash in baking pan; pour in enough boiling water to come 1/2-inch up the sides of dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until squash is tender, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven; cool until easily handled, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Reduce oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Scoop out squash; separate strands with a fork. Reserve shells.
• Cook beef, onion, and bell pepper in a skillet over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes; drain. Stir in garlic, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper; cook and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Stir in squash; cook until liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes.
• Fill squash shells with squash mixture using a slotted spoon; place in a shallow baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until flavors combine, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese; bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.

SAUSAGE-AND-KALE STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Cook shells in a large pot of salted boiling water 5 minutes; drain. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add sausage; cook, breaking up with spoon, until cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Add kale and 2 tablespoons water to pan and cook, stirring, until wilted about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add to sausage. Let cool completely then coarsely chop mixture.
• Combine ricotta, 1/4 cup Parmigiano, 1/2 cup mozzarella, and sausage mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Stuff each shell with about 2 tablespoons filling. Spread 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Top with shells; spread 1 1/2 cups sauce over shells. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmigiano. Cover with parchment- lined foil.To Freeze: Freeze 1 hour, then wrap entire dish in plastic and keep in freezer up to 3 months. To bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove plastic. Bake, covered, until heated through and bubbling around edges, about 1 hour. Uncover and bake until cheese is bubbling and golden in spots, about 20 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.To Bake and Serve: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove plastic. Bake, covered, until heated through and bubbling around edges, about 1 hour. Uncover and bake until cheese is bubbling and golden in spots, about 20 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

BAKED SHELLS WITH WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions; season with salt and pepper. Cover; cook until the onions are soft and release their liquid, about 15 minutes. Uncover; raise the heat to medium. Cook, stirring, until the onions are browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon of the rosemary.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water for 2 minutes less than the package instructions suggest. Drain, reserving 1 1/2 cups of the cooking water. Return the pasta to the pot.
• Stir squash and reserved pasta water into the onions; simmer for 2 minutes. Toss the squash mixture and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan with the pasta. Transfer to the prepared dish.
• Combine the bread cubes with the remaining Parmesan, rosemary, and oil; season with salt and pepper. Top the pasta with the bread cubes; bake until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Substituting Fresh Squash
• Roast whole winter squash on a rimmed baking sheet, turning occasionally, until very tender when pierced with a knife, about 1 hour, depending on the size of the squash. When cool enough to handle, halve the squash lengthwise and scrape the flesh into a food processor (discard the skin and seeds). Purée until smooth. You will need 2 cups (from about 3/4 pound squash).