Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells with Bacon and Crispy Sage - pasta shells with a butternut squash and mascarpone filling, baked in a parmesan cream sauce, topped with bacon and crispy sage.
The combination of a creamy butternut squash pasta with bacon and sage is an irresistible favorite.
Chewy jumbo pasta shells are stuffed with a velvety smooth filling of roasted butternut squash and creamy mascarpone, fragrant with just a hint of golden brown sautéed onion to bring out the sweetness.
The shells are baked in a creamy, sage-infused parmesan béchamel sauce and topped with crispy sage leaves and crumbled bacon.
Salty-sweet-smoky-herby. Creamy-chewy-crunchy-crispy. The flavors and textures of this fall favorite have me dreaming about it all year long.
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How to make butternut squash puree
Check out my post on How to Make Pumpkin Puree with step by step photos, substituting butternut squash for the pumpkin.
- Cut the butternut squash in half lengthwise
- Put the squash cut-side down on a parchment lined baking sheet
- Roast for about an hour, or until the flesh is soft and a knife pierces it easily
- Remove from oven and let cool
- Scrape out the seeds, then spoon out the flesh and puree it.
You will need 2 ½ cups of puree, or about 19 ounces, from a 2 ½ to 3 lb squash.
How to make Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells
Cook the pasta shells:
- Boil the shells in salted water until al dente.
- Drain and rinse under cold water.
- I like to put a little olive or vegetable oil on my hands and be sure the shells are all separated and covered with a light film of oil to prevent sticking.
Handle the shells gently to prevent breakage. I always cook extra shells because a few usually break during cooking.
Prepare the butternut squash filling:
- Sautee the chopped onion until golden brown and soft.
- Add the garlic and sauté for a minute.
- Stir into the rest of the filling ingredients or run it through the food processor if you’d like it very smooth.
Fill the shells:
- Using either a spoon or a piping bag, fill the shells with the filling. I use a large ziplock bag and cut off the corner to make a mock piping bag.
Make the béchamel sauce:
- Melt the butter over medium high heat. Add the fresh sage leaves and sauté until they are just getting crispy. The butter will just start to brown, but don’t let it burn.
- Remove the sage leaves from the butter. (Lift the pan off the burner so the butter doesn’t burn while removing the leaves, then return to burner.)
- Add the flour and whisk until combined.
- Whisk in the milk and bouillion cube.
- Stir until thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in parmesan until melted.
- Season with a few scrapings of nutmeg. Salt and pepper to taste.
Assemble the dish:
- Pour half of the béchamel into the bottom of a baking dish.
- Arrange the stuffed shells on top of the béchamel.
- Pour the rest of the béchamel on top of the shells.
How to bake Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells:
- Bake at 375° F for about 30 minutes until bubbly and heated through.
- Turn on the broiler for the last minute to nicely brown the top.
- Remove from oven and top with crumbled bacon and crispy sage.
Vegetarian Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells
For a vegetarian version, use vegetable bouillon in the béchamel sauce and use vegan bacon.
Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 5 1x
Description
Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells with Bacon and Crispy Sage -pasta shells with a butternut squash and mascarpone filling, baked in a parmesan cream sauce, topped with bacon and crispy sage.
Ingredients
- 20 (186g) jumbo pasta shells
For the filling:
- ½ tablespoon (7g) butter
- 3 tablespoons onion (chopped)
- 1 garlic clove (finely minced)
- 2 ½ cups (510g) pureed roasted butternut squash
- 6 tablespoons (85g) mascarpone
- ¼ cup (28g) finely grated parmesan
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Few shavings of fresh nutmeg
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the béchamel:
- 2 ½ tablespoons (35g) butter
- 20 fresh sage leaves
- 2 tablespoons (18g) flour
- 2 cups (454g) milk
- 1 chicken or vegetable bouillon cube
- ¼ cup (24g) finely grated parmesan
- Few shavings of fresh nutmeg
- Salt and pepper to taste
To serve:
- 4-5 slices crumbled cooked bacon
Instructions
Cook the pasta shells:
- Boil the shells in salted water until al dente.
- Drain and rinse under cold water.
- I like to put a little olive or vegetable oil on my hands and be sure the shells are all separated and covered with a light film of oil to prevent sticking.
- Handle the shells gently to prevent breakage. I always cook extra shells because a few usually break during cooking.
Prepare the butternut squash filling:
- Sautee the chopped onion until golden brown and soft.
- Add the garlic and sauté for a minute.
- Stir into the rest of the filling ingredients or run it through the food processor if you’d like it very smooth.
Fill the shells:
- Using either a spoon or a piping bag, fill the shells with the filling. I use a large ziplock bag and cut off the corner to make a mock piping bag.
Make the béchamel sauce:
- Melt the butter over medium high heat. Add the fresh sage leaves and sauté until they are just getting crispy. The butter will just start to brown, but don’t let it burn.
- Remove the sage leaves from the butter. (Lift the pan off the burner so the butter doesn’t burn while removing the leaves, then return to burner.)
- Add the flour and whisk until combined.
- Whisk in the milk and bouillon cube, stir until thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in parmesan until melted.
- Season with a few scrapings of nutmeg. Salt and pepper to taste.
Assemble the dish:
- Pour half of the béchamel into the bottom of a baking dish.
- Arrange the stuffed shells on top of the béchamel.
- Pour the rest of the béchamel on top of the shells.
Bake and serve:
- Bake at 375° F for about 30-40 minutes until bubbly and heated through.
- Turn on the broiler for the last minute to nicely brown the top.
- Remove from oven and top with crumbled bacon and crispy sage.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course, pasta
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: artichoke pasta, butternut, pasta bake, squash, stuffed shells
Enjoy, friends!
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Such a fine gourmet pasta bake! You totally have me at that sage-infused parmesan béchamel sauce!
It's pretty wonderful! Thanks so much, Angie!
Looks good!!
★★★★★
Thanks Cookie Monster!
This is a gorgeous dish with all the flavors of fall. My family would love it!
★★★★★
Thanks so much, Marcie!
Ahhh. Autumn at the seashore... or in a sea shell! What a great way to stuff shells - so different from the traditional. Love it!
Thanks so much, David!
I love crispy sage - it's sooo good! It goes so well with butternut squash (and pasta)! Yum!
★★★★★
I love the flavor combo! Thanks so much, Katherine!
These stuffed shells are gorgeous, Kelly! So warm, creamy, comforting! I especially love the toasted sage and bacon additions you made - these take it right over the top! nice recipe, thanks!
★★★★★
I love sage and bacon with sweet butternut squash. Thanks so much, Laura!
Oh my god,my stomach started growling as soon as I read the title of this post! It’s been printed. It will be a good recipe for when people pop over. A limited number, of course. Comfort food at its best.
Thanks so much, Mimi! It's my favorite flavor combo for fall!
This is an absolutely beautiful combination of textures and flavors. My mouth is watering! 🙂 ~Valentina
Thanks so much, Valentina!
Oh my, what a wonerfully fallish dish. I love butternut squash ravioli, so this is a natural for me...
I got the idea from my butternut ravioli, Ron. I thought it might be even easier using the same filling in stuffed shells. Thanks so much!
this looks so very delicious kelly! i am drooling here...
Thanks so much, Sherry!
I haven't made stuffed shells in a very long time. Love using butternut squash! This sounds so flavorful, and of course is perfect for the season. Thanks!
I loved the flavors in my butternut squash ravioli so much that I wanted have them in an even easier recipe to make. Thanks so much, John!
This one gives me all of the feels, Kelly! I love the crispy sage. It goes perfectly with butternut squash pasta! I need to buy some jumbo shells to fill with this deliciousness!!
★★★★★
Butternut squash with crispy sage and bacon is my favorite fall flavor combo! Thanks so much, Katherine!
I've always loved butternut squash-filled pasta and the idea of using jumbo shells in a cheesy sage-stuffed casserole sounds amazing! Even more squash filling to enjoy.
It's my favorite fall flavor combo in an easy to make dish! Thanks so much, Susan!
Creamy, sweet, savoury, I love it
★★★★★
We love the combination of flavors! Thanks so much, Raymund!
I got hungry reading the description! My daughter and I would thoroughly enjoy this pasta! The only thing I would need to do is use a bacon substitute as she is a pescatarion. I’m hoping someday she will become an omnivore again.
A little vegan bacon would do just fine! Thanks so much, Thao!
I am totally drooling over these Kelly! They need to happen in my kitchen ASAP!! Such a delicious fall comfort food dish!
★★★★★
Thanks so much, Mary Ann!