If you are on a quest to add more vegetables to your diet or just want to try something new – here are 5 recipes. Pumpkin Stuffed Shells with Cheddar Sauce, Eggplant Stuffed Shells, Peanut Veggie Stuffed Shells, Veggie Stuffed Shells, and Taco Stuffed Shells with Mole Sauce. Some of these are not really step by step recipes per say but suggestions. You can experiment with amounts and ingredients that suit your tastes.

I experimented with these. I would not consider all of them to be a success but I am sharing all of them because maybe it will give you some insight or inspiration. Each of these meals are pictured in EasyLunchBoxes.

Pumpkin Stuffed Shells with Cheddar Sauce

My parents and I enjoyed these and I would make it again. In fact I have already made this twice (once with canned pumpkin and once with a roasted butternut squash).

Cook 15 large pasta shells according to the package directions. Mix 3/4 cup canned pumpkin with 15 ounces ricotta cheese. Stir in 1/2 tsp dried sage. Make Cheddar cheese sauce. Fill shells with ricotta-pumpkin mixture. Put some Cheddar cheese sauce on the bottom of your baking pan. Place shells in baking pan. Spoon sauce over shells. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375 for about 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for about 10 more minutes.

Eggplant Stuffed Shells

This looks like the most traditional of this set but it has eggplant. My parents and brother ate this with me and they enjoyed it.

Fill cooked large shell pasta with the sauce and fresh mozzarella cheese from this recipe.  Placed the stuffed shells in a baking pan with jar tomato sauce on the bottom. Spoon some tomato sauce on top then sprinkle the shells with mozzarella cheese. Cover the baking pan with aluminum foil. Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes. Uncover and cook an additional 10 minutes.

Peanut Veggie Stuffed Shells

I love peanut noodles and have featured them on this blog a few times.

Cook 15 large shell pasta according to the package directions. Stir fry cut vegetables until tender (I used matchstick carrots, red bell pepper, snow peas, broccoli, garlic and peanuts). Fill shells with vegetables and peanut mixture. Place shells in baking pan. Make peanut sauce. This sauce is sweet and I cut the honey in half. If you prefer something more savory you can try the dressing from this recipe. Spoon peanut sauce over shells. Serve. This can be eaten hot or cold.

Veggie Stuffed Shells

I enjoyed this one and will make it again. My husband who prefers traditional stuffed shells ate these and said he would eat them again.

This recipe is from Woman’s Day.

Taco Stuffed Shells with Mole Sauce

This recipe was my least favorite of the group. I am including it in-case you decide you want  to try this or if reading this makes you decide to try a different combination.

Saute chopped bell peppers in a little olive oil until almost tender. Add 1 can black beans, some water, and taco seasoning. Cook about 10 minutes. Fill cooked shell pasta with bean and bell pepper mixture. Put some mole sauce on the bottom of your pan. Place shells in baking pan.. Spoon mole sauce on top of shells. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes. Uncover and cook an additional 10 minutes.

Below are links to my other meals and recipes which include large shell pasta.

Armadillo

Avocado Salad Shells

Vegetarian Salad Shells