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My Roasted Pumpkin, Ricotta and Sage Pasta Shells are a delicious make-ahead meal!
When entertaining, it is important to be as organised as possible. This makes your role as a host much more relaxed. As such, meal preparation really is key. Dishes prepared in advance mean you won’t be spending half the time in the kitchen, missing out on having fun with your guests.
My friend Nicolas from Blogtastic Food invited me to join
As you would know, I love to host dinner parties.
I have always loved cooking for my family and friends. I get such pleasure from it. In my opinion, nothing beats good company, conversation, delicious food and a couple of glasses of wine!
I love to serve my Pumpkin, Ricotta and Sage Pasta Shells at dinner parties. Much like my Spinach and Ricotta Shells or Eggplant Involtini, this is a wonderful dish to prepare in advance, and pop into the oven when your friends arrive. Serve with a salad and some bread and you have the ideal meal.
To prepare these delicious Pasta Shells is very simple –
The pasta shells are cooked until they are very al-dente. In other words, slightly undercooked, as they will cook further in the oven.
I roast some pumpkin for a delicious, caramelised flavour. Once the flesh is deliciously tender, I mash with ricotta, fresh sage, parmesan cheese and nutmeg. I fill the shells with the pumpkin and ricotta mixture and prepare a garlic cream sauce to top.
The shells are baked until deliciously golden. They’re ideal served with a green salad and some crusty bread.
Enjoy, and do let me know in the comments below when you try this recipe!
Alex xx
Looking for some more fabulous meal prep ideas?
Here are some of my favourites:
Mushroom Risotto by Julia Recipes
Thai Green Chicken Curry by Blogtastic Food
Broccoli Cheese Quiche and Sweet Potato Hash by Slice of Honey
Red Lentil, Tamarind and Tomato Soup by Cuisine D’eli
Vegan Meal Prep Chili by Holistic Hormone Help
Instant Pot Ropa Vieja by Hangry White Male
Easy Mexican Lasagna by Real Food Happy Home
Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers by Meals with Maggie
Garlic Shrimp Skillet with Bulger by Health Laura
Make Ahead Mini Fritattas in Muffin Tins by 31 Daily
Pumpkin, Ricotta and Sage Pasta Shells
Ingredients
Filling
- 1 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 500 g pumpkin peeled and chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 500 g ricotta full fat
- 2 tbsp fresh sage finely chopped
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg freshly grated
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese reserve 1/4 cup for sprinkling on top
- salt and pepper to taste
- 26 large pasta shells can use gluten-free if required
Sauce
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup flour use gluten-free if required
- 2 cups milk
- 5 cloves garlic peeled and finely chopped
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Pasta Shells
- Bring a large pan of salted water to a boil.
Add the pasta shells and stir well. I cook them for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, but times differ between brands. When I use gluten-free shells they take about 5 minutes. Don’t be guided by the cooking time on the packet; the shells must be slightly undercooked as they will finish cooking when heated in the oven. - Drain the shells well and spread them out, concave side down, on a clean tea towel to prevent them from cooking further and ensure all water drains off.
Filling
- Preheat your oven to 180 degrees C (350 F).Peel the pumpkin, and chop into 1-inch cubes.
Toss in a little olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. - Roast until the pumpkin flesh is tender and slightly caramelised – this will take 25 minutes approximately.
- Remove the pumpkin and mash with a fork until it is smooth.
- To the pumpkin puree, add the ricotta, fresh sage, parmesan cheese and nutmeg.
- Combine the mixture well, and season with salt and pepper.
Garlic Cream Sauce
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped garlic, and stir frequently for 2 minutes. Add the flour, and allow it to cook for about 1 minute, being sure to whisk or stir frequently.
- Add in half of the milk, whisking constantly for 1 minute. Add the remainder of the milk and whisk for 1 minute.Add your Parmesan and salt and pepper. Cook until the mixture thickens. If it thickens too much, add a little additional milk.
Assembling the Shells
- Preheat oven to 180 Degrees C (350 F).
- Put 1/3 cup of the garlic cream sauce in the base of a large ovenproof dish. Using a dessert spoon, fill the pasta shells with the pumpkin and ricotta mixture, and place in the ovenproof dish.
- Drizzle the remainder of the garlic cream sauce over the pasta shells. Top with the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese.
- To prevent the shells from burning, cover with foil for the first 30 minutes that they’re in the oven. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for the final 10 minutes. With the tip of a sharp knife, check that the pasta is completely cooked.Sprinkle with additional fresh sage prior to serving if you wish.
This looks really good and it sounds super delicious! I would love to give this a try.
Thank you so much, I look forward to hearing if you make the pasta shells. 🙂
We love all the Pumpkin recipes that pop up at this time of year and pumpkin and sage is such a great combination.
Yes, pumpkin and sage are great companions and make a delicious filling for these pasta shells. 🙂
Ooh this sounds really delicious. I need some pumpkin recipes since fall is coming up and I hardly ever try making pasta with shells so this sounds like something I’ll have to try.
Eli, this is an ideal dish for fall and I love that it can be made ahead of time. Perfect when entertaining. 🙂
This is something i imagine my boys would love on weekend meal. will definitely try this at home soonest. just need to buy a few ingredients.
I look forward to hearing how you and your boys enjoy the pasta shells. 🙂
My kid is a pasta lover.This recipe sounds delicious and I am sure my kid will love this…
Thank you Amila, I am delighted that you like the recipe. 🙂
This looks divine! I’ve never tried pumpkin and ricotta together but it looks good!
Thank you Lisa, please let me know if you try making the pasta shells. 🙂
Looks like a pretty great meal you have here. I am so in love with everything that has ricotta! Can’t wait to try this one.
Please let me know how you enjoy it. 🙂
What a great recipe for the fall season. And this dish sounds very easy to make.
It’s just perfect for fall Lasonia. Please let me know if you try it. 🙂
This looks delicious. Perfect for family and friends to enjoy.
It is great for entertaining. I love to have a dish that I can make in advance. 🙂
Another super easy recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Sushmita, I am so pleased that you like the recipe, thank you. 🙂
This looks tasty. It looks like theprefect fall comfort food.I will try asap.
This is ideal for fall Lavanda. Enjoy!:)
This looks like the perfect fall dish! I need to try making it.
This is perfect for fall Ada, enjoy! 🙂
What a great recipe to try. I am saving it to try this fall, thank you.
Cindy, this is perfect for fall. Enjoy! 🙂
This looks absolutely mouth watering! Thank you for the recipe x
Laura
https://pinkfrenzymissl.blogspot.com/
I am so pleased that you like it Laura. 🙂
Today, I learn a new recipe and I am so excited to make this for my kids. It looks really delicious and I am sure they will love this.
This is very popular with children Catherine. I hope that your family enjoys the pasta shells. 🙂
This is an amazing recipe! I would love to try it in my own kitchen!
Please let me know if you do, I would be interested to hear how you enjoy the pasta shells. 🙂
This dish goes into my menu plan for next week. It looks so delicious and I love that you can make this ahead of time.
Annemarie, it is always good to have a dish already prepared and ready to go into the oven. Enjoy! 🙂
Pasta shells are one of my favorite dishes to make for the family during Pasta Sundays. Love that you’ve shared a fall version with pumpkin. YUM!
Thank you Dana, I do hope that you enjoy the baked pasta. 🙂
I love the combination of pumpkin and sage. They pair so well together and always make me think of fall.
They are a great flavour combination, Cindy. Please let me know if you make the baked pasta. 🙂
What a delicious recipe! This is perfect fall comfort food!
Please let me know if you make the baked pasta Steph. 🙂
this is such an interesting taste combo! i gotta try this!
I look forward to hearing how you enjoy it Jasmine. 🙂
I’ve been on a ricotta craze recently! This recipe sounds perfect for a pasta night with my husband.
I look forward to hearing how you enjoy the baked pasta Elizabeth. 🙂
I could have a portion and I just had dinner LOL it looks amazing!
Thank you Arya. 🙂
Now I just felt like being one of your guests too! They do enjoy delicious meals at those dinner parties. Anyway, This meal looks so good- I would love it with some salad and bread as you said. Good combination there. This would be good for Christmas dinners too.
Thank you for the lovely comments Dalene, I do appreciate them. 🙂
Thank you for sharing this recipe with me. It looks so delicious. I think my family will love it
Kristal, this is a great recipe for the family and I love that it can be prepared in advance. 🙂
This looks so good! I love fresh sage with pasta!
Yes, Tara, sage and pumpkin are great companions. 🙂
Wow, you definitely shared with us a delicious and healthy recipe and I can’t really wait to make this at home and I am sure my husband will love it.
I look forward to hearing how you enjoy it. 🙂
It will be a season for pumpkins soon! Can’t wait to try this recipe out, as it looks really delicious! 🙂
It will be ideal for your fall celebrations Natalia, enjoy! 🙂
The shells look so great. They are certainly worth trying. Going to try this weekend.
Please let me know how you enjoy them Lina. 🙂
I never know how to cook pumpkin so it always gets thrown away at Halloween – will give this recipe a try
It will be a great way to use pumpkin. Please let me know how you enjoy it. 🙂
Oh my goodness, this looks like such a delicious recipe! With so many autumn parties coming up in the near future, this would be a great thing to make when either hosting your own, or being invited to someone else’s!
I love that the pasta shells can be made in advance, making them ideal for entertaining. 🙂
This Pumpkin, Ricotta and Sage Pasta Shells looks and sounds absolutely delicious. I would love to try it out.
Please let me know if you do try them Sue-Tanya. 🙂
By just looking at this pumpkin dish I’m hungry,by the way great photo!
Thank you for the lovely comment, I do appreciate it. 🙂
These sound absolutely wonderful! I love pumpkin but rarely cook meals with it. I’m adding this to our fall recipe list!
This will be ideal for fall, Heather. Enjoy! 🙂
Oh my goodness this looks absolutely DELISH! I am so psyched it’s pumpkin season, I am so ready for it!
I do hope that you enjoy the baked pasta Krysten. 🙂
Pumpkin is the great ingredient, so healthy and I have to give it a go. I hope my whole family enjoy it.
It is a great meal for a family, I love that it can be made in advance. 🙂
Oh man, these look so good! I’m saving these for a date night when we have a bit of extra time to make them, but I love some pasta shells!
That sounds like a great idea Ashley, enjoy! 🙂
I had loved your spinach ricotta recipe and this is one more step awesome! I’d never had imagined these contents together in a dish. Looks quite delicious too!!
Thank you so much, Aishwarya for letting me know how much you enjoy the spinach and ricotta pasta shells. I do hope that you enjoy this baked pasta as well. 🙂
It is very yummy I must try this recipe
I do hope that you enjoy the pasta shells. 🙂
This is win win combo! Pumpkin and ricotta in pasta sounds fabulous:-)
Thank you Julia, this is a great, make-ahead meal, perfect for entertaining. 🙂
Love the combination of pumpkin and ricotta. And, of course, pasta shells. Looks so delicious — can’t wait to try!
I look forward to hearing how you enjoy it Stephanie. 🙂
This dish looks drooling I will definitely going to try this for sure. Thanks for sharing recipe.
Thank you Sundeep, please let me know how you enjoy the Pasta Shells. 🙂
Yum this recipe looks so good. We love all things pumpkin.
Thank you, please let me know if you try the pasta shells. 🙂
I love all things pumpkin! It’s my favorite flavor, largely because it reminds me of my favorite season. I can’t wait to try these shells. Definitely an upgrade to my boring spaghetti.
Thank you Melanie, please let me know if you try the pasta shells. 🙂
I love pumpkin and ricotta. And this recipe looks so delicious and easy to make! Many thanks!
Hi Cecilia, the Pasta Shells are delicious and I especially like a dish that can be made ahead of time. 🙂
I always check your informative page for more recipe and you never disappoint. Thumbs up for this Pumpkin, Ricotta and Sage Pasta Shells. That looks delicious!
Thank you for the lovely comments Chelle. Let me know if you try the Pasta Shells. 🙂
Wow this pasta looks so tempting. I need to try this out ASAP
I love that I can make this dish ahead of time. Enjoy! 🙂
this pasta is looking yumm i wanna try this weekend.
I love that I can make this dish ahead of time. It helps to eliminate last-minute stress. I do hope that you enjoy it. 🙂
This recipe sounds so flavourful! My italian husband would def love this!
Thank you Jessa, I look forward to hearing how you both enjoy it. 🙂
Nice reading about this pumpkin ricotta. I will have to plan this one soon.
Thank you Kalyan, I do hope that you enjoy it. 🙂
My step mom would love this recipe. I will share it with her to make sometime soon.
Thank you for sharing the recipe Brie, I do hope that you both enjoy the cake. 🙂
Squash, sage, pasta! OMG my kind of food!
They’re a great combination Enriqueta. Please let me know if you make them. 🙂
Your guests sure are lucky! What a delicious dish. I have a weakness for baked ricotta and pasta dishes, and pumpkin and sage are so great together. Can’t wait to try this!
Thank you Amanda, please let me know if you try it. 🙂
I’m Italian and I just love pasta. I like the combo pumpkin with ricotta. I bet it tastes yummy!
The combination of flavours is certainly delicious and I love that I can make this dish ahead of time. 🙂
Ooooooh I want to save this recipe for later! YUUUUUUm. I love stuffed pasta shells!!!
I look forward to hearing when you make them Brittany. 🙂
I’m always looking for recipes with pumpkin, thank you for this!
I’m glad that you like the recipe Miriam. I look forward to hearing how you enjoy the pasta shells. 🙂
I love how you’ve plated this dish. Very colorful!
Thank you for the lovely comment Dana. 🙂
I love these pasta shells. Such a different recipe to try with Pumpkin. Would love to try!
The pumpkin does make for a nice variation. Please let me know if you make the pasta shells. 🙂
Wow, this recipe looks awesome. It surely gonna make a wonderful dinner. I would love to try the recipe this weekend! ~ Ola @ WanderWithOla
Thank you Ola, I do hope you enjoy the pasta shells. 🙂
That looks delicious. I love pasta creations :). Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Jackline. 🙂
These have such amazing flavor! I love how cheesy these are – my kids cant stop eating it!
Thank you Bree, I’m so pleased that your family is enjoying the pasta shells. 🙂
Make-ahead recipes are my go-to option whenever entertaining friends at home…they just make life so much easier. Pasta is an all-around favorite, so will surely give this a try next time.
– Nandita
Thank you Nandita, I do hope that you enjoy the pasta shells. 🙂
I have had pumpkin ravioli before so I need to make this. This sounds so delicious
Thank you Tara, I do hope that you enjoy the pasta shells. The pumpkin is a nice variation. 🙂
I love Italian food. The recipe doesn’t seem overly complicated so I feel like I can manage to make it. Gotta upgrade my cooking skills
It’s definitely not difficult. I do hope that you try it. 🙂
Loving this combination and the dish looks so beautiful to look at so it definitely tastes great. Always love your recipes.
Thank you Joan for the lovely comments, I appreciate them very much. 🙂
I am definitely going to have to try this recipe! This looks really delicious. I love finding new recipes I can use pumpkin in!
Thank you Nicole, I especially like that I can make them ahead of time. I hope that you enjoy them. 🙂
Omg, what a great Combo.The ingredients itself proves It would be delicious.I am like you.I love to host parties.And this would be a great thing to serve people
Thank you for the lovely comments. This is definitely a popular dish when I serve it at parties. 🙂
Pumpkin and cheese make such a great combination when it comes to pasta. I used to eat pumpkin ravioli very often when I was in Italy. There I would eat them with a simple sage and butter sauce, but I can imagine that baked are delicious as well.
Oh Joanna, I agree with you, I also love pumpkin ravioli with sage butter. The flavour combination works well here too and I love that I can make this dish ahead of time. 🙂
What a great recipe to try out! I will be pinning for later.
Thank you for pinning the recipe Liz. Please let me know when you try it. 🙂
This is so delicious. I don’t like pumpkin.. this is a good alternative to add it. I am going to try it out.
Maybe this recipe will convert you to pumpkin Arun. 🙂
This sounds like an incredible combo! We love our pasta here, so I’ll have to try this for dinner one night.
Thank you Amber, it is a good combination of flavours. Please let me know if you try it. 🙂
I actually think this might be too pretty to eat. But. I’d totally eat it anyway! Yum!
First we enjoy it with our eyes – and then we eat! 🙂
looking so good thank you for sharing keep it up.
Thank you, I’m so pleased that you’re enjoying the recipes. 🙂
I’ve never tried anything that’s been made with pumpkin, but this recipe makes me want to give it a try.
I’m glad you like the recipe Jennifer, please let me know if you make the pasta shells. 🙂
Holii!
What a good pint it has a plate. I like the dishes that have pumpkin. I sign the recipe
Good day!!
Thank you, I am very pleased that you like the recipe. 🙂
I can’t wait to try this. Pasta shells are my favorite!!
Adriana, I love that they are a great, make-ahead meal. Let me know if you try them. 🙂
I’m not one to step out of my meal and potato comfort zone. This is a dish I think I could try.
It may be time for a new experience Blair. 😉 Please let me know if you try the pasta shells. 🙂
Sending this to my mom RIGHT NOW!!! She would LOVE this!
Thank you Ashli, I hope that your mother enjoys the pasta shells. 🙂
This is a for sure winning recipe. I love all of the ingredients! Can’t wait to try this 🙂
Thank you, I hope that you enjoy the pasta shells. 🙂
Great recipe! I’m always looking for new dishes to make and this one looks yummy af
Thank you so much, please let me know if you make the pasta shells. 🙂
Alex, The Pasta shells look delicious. I’m loving your recipes and congrats for teaming up with Nicolas on Meal Preparations.
Thanks so much, Owen – best wishes 🙂
OMG – looks delicious! Love pumpkin and sage so have to try this one! Maybe for the weekend!
Linda, pumpkin and sage are a great match. Please let me know if you make the pasta shells. 🙂
What a unique dish! I can almost taste the creamy pumpkin and ricotta that sounds like an awesome combo! Must try:)
Thank you Steph, please let me know if you make the pasta shells. 🙂
Looks and sounds amazing. I think we will be trying this for dinner tonight/
That’s wonderful. I would love to hear how you enjoy the pasta shells. 🙂
I love the sauce that you used for this recipe. The dish looks sumptuous!
Thank you, I’m so pleased that you like the recipe. 🙂
We love hosting dinner parties here, too, Alexandra! And pasta is always a favorite no matter how many people are here for dinner. The flavors of this one sound absolutely amazing. I love pumpkin + sage and then add in pasta, too? Sign me up!!
Hi David, pumpkin and sage are definitely a great combination. I especially like that this dish, being prepared in advance, makes for much more relaxed entertaining. I do hope that you enjoy it. 🙂
How good are giant pasta shells??! This looks fantastic, can’t wait to get into it!
Jaimie, I love giant pasta shells. And I especially like that I can make this dish ahead of time and relieve some last minute pressure. 🙂
I love pasta bakes, and I love roasted pumpkin… that is seriously a recipe made for me!
I’m so pleased Sylvie, I do hope that you enjoy it. 🙂
These pasta shells look like they would be so amazing. I would love to give these a try!
Becca, they have great flavour and I love a meal which can be prepared ahead of time. I hope that you try them. 🙂
We have a lot of ricotta here in Italy, and so this recipe really resonates with me. I like the pumpkin combination too!
Lisa, Italy is heaven for people who like food. I’m so pleased that you like the recipe. 🙂
I’m already loving the recipe! Thanks for sharing:) I’m pinning it for later and saving in my recipe app:)
Thank you for pinning the recipe Monica, please let me know when you try it. 🙂
I love how this boosts the nutrition content of a traditional recipe
It does indeed Robin, and adds a lovely, mild flavour. 🙂
This sounds absolutely gorgeous! I have some frozen roast pumpkin puree I am going to make this with soon!
Thank you Elizabeth, please let me know how you enjoy it. 🙂
I love using fresh pumpkin, their aren’t enough recipes that do! Definitely a dish with tons of flavor! Also LOVE that I can make this ahead.
Thank you Mikayla, being able to make food ahead of time is a great help. Please let me know when you make the Pasta Shells. 🙂
I love make ahead meals like this. Especially when we are travelling. It’s great to come home to a good dinner.
Tandy, it’s a wonderful feeling to know that a meal is waiting for you. Enjoy! 🙂
Pumpkin is one of the healthiest ingredient so glad you have used this in your recipe. Love to try this out as we usually have pumpkin in my weekly groceries shopping list.
Thank you for your comments, please let me know if you make the Pasta Shells. 🙂
I love those filled pasta shells! They’re so versatile and now that we’ve got plenty of pumpkin a delicious idea.
Thank you Lorraine, I just love autumn’s bounty; so many wonderful foods. 🙂
This looks incredible Alexandra!! Love the way you served this pasta!!
Thank you Nicolas, I just love a meal that I can make in advance. 🙂
The recipe sounds interesting for me, I would love to try it too. very nice set of ingredients
Thank you, please let me know if you try the Pasta Shells. 🙂
What a delicious sounding dish. My kids would definitely love this – it sounds so full of flavour.
It is a dish which is perfect for family meals and yet is ideal for entertaining. I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
Looks so delicious and comforting! Can’t wait to try this recipe soon for dinner!
Thank you Natalie, please let me know when you make the Pasta Shells. 🙂
Love how easy and flavorful this recipe is! Will be making again and again!
Thank you Kim, I love the fact that I can make the Pasta Shells in advance. Enjoy! 🙂
what a great recipe especially for holiday time, going to try this and save this one I love pumpkin recipes THANKS!
Thank you so much, I do hope that you enjoy the Pasta Shells. 🙂
Yummmm this looks so comforting! I love a tasty pasta dish! Must try.
Thank you Rosa, please let me know if you make the Pasta Shells. 🙂
Wowww! So I made these last night and what a hit! So tasty and so comforting!
Thank you Rosa, I am delighted that you enjoyed the Pasta Shells. 🙂
These look glorious! I love the flavour combination, pumpkin is a favourite of mine, but I haven’t used it in savoury dishes much. I don’t know why because this looks and sounds delicious, I need to try it out!
Thank you Annie, please let me know if you try the Pasta Shells. 🙂
I was looking for a slightly different idea to cook pumpkin with, here it is!
Thank you Cristina, I do hope that you enjoy it. 🙂
Oh my, drooling now! This looks so beautiful, Alex.
Brilliant recipe.
Thank you Alice, I look forward to hearing if you try them. 🙂
A delicious combination of flavours, and makes for the ideal dinner.
It makes a great dinner Brian and I love that I can make it in advance. 🙂
Oh my goodness me! These look SO incredible. Pumpkin and sage is such a delicious combination.
Thank you Emmy, I agree, they’re great flavours. I do hope you try it. 🙂