Best 5 Baked Shells With Winter Squash Recipes

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Baked shells with winter squash is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish. The combination of tender squash and flavorful cheese creates a satisfying and comforting meal that is perfect for a cold night. Whether you choose to use store-bought or homemade pasta shells, this dish is sure to please everyone at your table.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

WINTER SQUASH CASSEROLE



Winter Squash Casserole image

Years ago, our vegetable garden kept us well-supplied all year long. Dad stored huge piles of potatoes and squash in the coldest part of the basement. In winter the squash was so hard. Mother sometimes used an ax to cut it into small pieces for cooking! Her hard work was worth it, because we really enjoyed this wonderful casserole! -Glendora Hauger, Siren, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Side Dishes

Time 1h

Yield 12 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

6 cups mashed cooked winter squash
1/2 cup butter, melted
6 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
TOPPING:
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup slivered almonds

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients. Pour into a ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. , Combine topping ingredients and crumble over the top. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 387 calories, Fat 20g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 147mg cholesterol, Sodium 294mg sodium, Carbohydrate 50g carbohydrate (39g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 6g protein.

WINTER SQUASH SQUARES



Winter Squash Squares image

Meet the Cook: Besides tasting good, these squares are a wonderful way to use up any leftover squash from dinner. Since my husband has a fertilizer-chemical business, I bake a lot of my squash squares for his crew and customers. We have five children, all of them married, and six grandchildren. -Shirley Murphy, Jacksonville, Illinois

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 40m

Yield 4 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs, beaten
2 cups mashed cooked winter squash
1 cup canola oil
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon milk

Steps:

  • In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir in eggs, squash and oil; mix well. Spread into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. , Meanwhile, for frosting, beat together cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and butter. Add milk; stir until smooth. Frost cooled cake. Cut into squares.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 140 calories, Fat 7g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 24mg cholesterol, Sodium 75mg sodium, Carbohydrate 18g carbohydrate (13g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.

BAKED SHELLS WITH WINTER SQUASH



Baked Shells with Winter Squash image

This is a grown-up alternative to macaroni and cheese, but even kids might approve.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Pasta and Grains

Time 50m

Number Of Ingredients 9

Butter, for baking dish
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 large onions, halved and thinly sliced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 pound small pasta shells
1 package (12 ounces) frozen winter squash puree, thawed
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 slices crusty baguette, cut into 1/4-inch cubes (1 1/2 cups)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions; season with salt and pepper. Cover; cook until onions are soft and release liquid, 15 minutes. Uncover; raise heat to medium. Cook, stirring, until onions are browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon rosemary.
  • Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water 2 minutes less than package instructions suggest. Drain, reserving 1 1/2 cups cooking water. Return pasta to pot.
  • Stir squash and reserved pasta water into onions; simmer 2 minutes. Toss squash mixture and 1/2 cup Parmesan with pasta. Transfer to prepared dish.
  • Combine bread cubes with remaining Parmesan, rosemary, and oil; season with salt and pepper. Top pasta with bread cubes; bake until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes.

BAKED SHELLS WITH WINTER SQUASH



Baked Shells with Winter Squash image

Categories     Bread     Bake     Roast     Squash     Winter     Simmer

Yield serves 6

Number Of Ingredients 9

Butter for the baking dish
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 large onions, halved and thinly sliced
Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 pound small pasta shells
1 package (12 ounces) frozen winter squash purée, thawed
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 slices crusty baguette, cut into 1/4-inch cubes (1 1/2 cups)

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).

BAKED WINTER SQUASH



Baked Winter Squash image

Make and share this Baked Winter Squash recipe from Food.com.

Provided by dicentra

Categories     Vegetable

Time 40m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 (1 lb) butternut squash
1/4 cup butter
4 teaspoons honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • Cut squash in half lengthwise; remove and discard seeds. Place squash, skin sides down, in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
  • Place 1 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoons honey in the cavity of each squash half; sprinkle squash evenly with salt and pepper. Add water to baking dish to a depth of 1/4 inch.
  • Bake, covered, at 400° for 30 minutes; uncover and bake 15 more minutes or until squash is tender.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 225.5, Fat 11.7, SaturatedFat 7.3, Cholesterol 30.5, Sodium 236.5, Carbohydrate 32.4, Fiber 4.6, Sugar 10.7, Protein 2.4

Tips:

  • Choose the right squash: Butternut squash is the most popular choice for baked shells, but you can also use pumpkin, acorn squash, or kabocha squash. Look for a squash that is firm and has a deep color.
  • Roast the squash before using it: Roasting the squash brings out its natural sweetness and flavor. To roast the squash, cut it in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Drizzle the squash with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast the squash at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-40 minutes, or until it is tender.
  • Use a good quality pasta sauce: The pasta sauce is one of the most important ingredients in baked shells. Choose a sauce that is flavorful and has a thick consistency. You can use a homemade sauce or a jarred sauce.
  • Don't overcook the shells: The shells should be cooked al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. If you overcook the shells, they will become mushy.
  • Top the shells with cheese: Cheese is a classic topping for baked shells. You can use any type of cheese that you like, but mozzarella, Parmesan, and cheddar are all popular choices.

Conclusion:

Baked shells are a delicious and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion. By following these tips, you can make sure that your baked shells turn out perfectly every time.

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