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Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta Shells Stuffed with Sausage, Spinach, and Tomatoes, and topped with Pepper Jack Cheese

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Creamy butternut squash pasta shells stuffed with spicy Italian sausage, fresh spinach, and cherry tomatoes, topped with pepper jack cheese and baked until bubbly. This cozy fall comfort food features a rich butternut squash and heavy cream sauce.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 10 oz jumbo pasta shells
  • 15 oz spicy Italian sausage, crumbled
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 5 oz fresh spinach
  • 8 oz cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
  • 1.5 cups butternut squash puree (or pumpkin puree)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • Fresh thyme
  • ⅓ cup pepper jack cheese, shredded
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook 10 oz jumbo pasta shells according to package instructions until al dente; drain and set aside. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add 15 oz crumbled spicy Italian sausage and cook for 5 minutes until browned; drain excess fat.
  2. To the skillet with sausage, add ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, 5 oz fresh spinach, and 8 oz halved cherry tomatoes (reserve some tomatoes). Cook 4-5 minutes until spinach wilts. Remove mixture to a bowl.
  3. In the same skillet, combine 1.5 cups butternut squash puree and 1 cup heavy cream; season with fresh thyme, salt, and pepper. Preheat oven to 400°F. Stuff cooked pasta shells with sausage mixture and arrange in a circular pattern over the sauce in the skillet. Top with reserved tomatoes and ⅓ cup shredded pepper jack cheese.
  4. Bake for 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

For a dairy-free version, substitute coconut milk for heavy cream, but pepper jack cheese may need a dairy-free alternative. Use pumpkin puree if butternut squash is unavailable. Make ahead by preparing filling and sauce separately; assemble and bake when ready.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.receipster.com/creamy-butternut-squash-stuffed-shells/

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