Published by Allyson
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Instant Pot Stuffed Shells is a shortcut recipe using frozen stuffed shells that takes barely any time! This will become a busy weeknight staple in your weekly meal plan!
Having quick and easy meals during on busy weeknights makes life a lot easier. Not only does meal planning help with grocery shopping and keeping organized, but it also helps save money and time. I love these Instant Pot Stuffed Shells because it's a set it and forget it recipe, and requires very very little effort! It only takes 2 items from the grocery store and then pair with a delicious side like this Simple Wedge Salad and dinner is served!
Like I said, it is SO EASY to make these Stuffed Shells!
How to make Instant Pot Stuffed Shells:
**scroll all the way down for printable directions and ingredient list**
- Get all the ingredients together; frozen stuffed shells, a jar of pasta sauce, and the 6 or 8qtInstant Pot. Add 1 ½ cups of water to the bottom of the instant pot.
- Add some sauce (delicious homemade marinara recipe here) to the bottom of a dish that is safe to use in the instant pot. I use a corningware bowl, but you could also use a silicone baking dish, cake pan, or springform pan.
- Can I put the shells directly into the pot?
- Maybe. I haven't tried it because I didn't want to add more water to the pot and have the sauce be too runny. If you add them directly to the pot, you would need to add at least ½ cup of water to the sauce so you don't get the burn signal; I found it easier to just use a baking dish.
- Can I put the shells directly into the pot?
- Layer the shells in the dish, then top with some sauce, then add any remaining shells on top, and top with some more sauce. Spread the sauce over the shells so that the shells are 'wet' with sauce all over.
- Loosely cover the dish with foil, then place on a removable rack, and lower the rack with dish into theInstant Pot. Place the cover on the instant pot and make sure the pressure valve is in the sealed position.
- Set theInstant Potto high or manual cook mode, and then set the timer on 15 minutes.
- Remember when using theInstant Pot, that the time it takes to cook the recipe (15 mins), is not the total time of the recipe. You need to give the pot some time to ‘come to pressure’. This could take 10 minutes or so.
- When the time is up, move the pressure valve to the side to release the pressure. Careful because steam will come out of the pressure valve. When all the pressure is released, remove the lid. Carefully remove the rack with the dish, then remove the foil (careful).
- Serve the shells topped with parmesan cheese if desired.
What side dishes go with Stuffed Shells?
- A Simple Wedge Salad is the perfect side dish to go along with these stuffed shells! You can easily make it in the time it takes to cook the shells!
- Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli is an incredibly easy, fast, and delicious side dish. This lower calorie air fryer option will become a staple side dish!
- Crispy, cheesy, and majorly delicious; these Air Fryer Crispy Parmesan Brussels Sprouts are going to be your new go-to side dish. Only a handful of ingredients and only 132 calories per serving!
- With only 2 ingredients and taking a fraction of the typical time, this Air Fryer Roasted Asparagus will be your favorite way to cook asparagus from now on!
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5 from 16 votes
Instant Pot Stuffed Shells (shortcut recipe)
Instant Pot Stuffed Shells is a shortcut recipe using frozen stuffed shells that takes barely any time! This will become a busy weeknight staple in your weekly meal plan!
Course:Main Course
Cuisine:Italian
Keyword:Instant Pot Stuffed Shells
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1packagefrozen stuffed shells
- 1jarpasta sauce/marinara sauce
- parmesan cheese to garnish
Instructions
Add 1 ½ cups of water to the bottom of the instant pot.
Add some sauce to the bottom of a dish that is safe to use in the Instant Pot. I use a corningware bowl, but you could also use a silicone baking dish, cake pan, or springform pan.
Layer the shells in the dish, then top with some sauce, then add any remaining shells on top, and top with some more sauce. Spread the sauce over the shells so that the shells are 'wet' with sauce all over.
Loosely cover the dish with foil, then place on a removable rack, and lower the rack with dish into theInstant Pot. Place the cover on the instant pot and make sure the pressure valve is in the sealed position. Set theInstant Potto high or manual cook mode, and then set the timer on 15 minutes.
When the time is up, move the pressure valve to the side to release the pressure. Careful because steam will come out of the pressure valve. When all the pressure is released, remove the lid. Carefully remove the rack with the dish, then remove the foil (careful).
Serve the shells topped with parmesan cheese if desired.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Homemade marinara sauce recipe here
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Alisha
I have been needing a new "go-to" recipe for my Instant Pot. I think I might have found it!Reply
April
Yum! I love stuffed shells, but don't normally make pasta in my IP - can't wait to give this a try, it looks super easy!Reply
wilhelmina
This was so incredibly easy and was a total hot with my family! Awesome recipe!Reply
Randall P
I made this recipe without the casserole dish because I didn't have one that would fit my instant pot. I modified the recipe by sauteing onions in EVOO and adding garlic and a can of diced tomatoes. The pasta shells kind of liquefied. The sauce tasted great but I would reduce the cooking time to 10 minutes next time I make it.Reply
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Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
Great dinner for busy weeknights!Reply
katerina @ diethood.com
My family would LOVE this!! I can't wait to try it this week!Reply
Haley D Williams
These look delicious! I love that they are made in the instant pot! Cannot wait to try these for dinner!Reply
Catalina
I've never tried to make stuffed shells in the Instant Pot! I should try it!Reply
Toni
I love how easy this is to make!! So delish!Reply
Sara Welch
Made this for dinner tonight and it has easily become a new family favorite meal! Looking forward to leftovers tomorrow!Reply
Rob Keesee
WHOSE frozen stuffed shells? WHAT are they stuffed with? My partner and I will only eat shells stuffed with meat, so that is no small detail! Sometimes you don't give enough information.Reply
Allyson
Hi Rob- I have never had stuffed shells with meat- interesting! I use frozen shells from any store- I like the ones from Aldi and Kroger...most grovery stores have some in the freezer section!
Reply
Cindy
I made this for dinner tonight using the Schwann's frozen stuffed shells. I made 9 shells in the instant pot small pot in pot. The shells on the outside were hot, but the ones in the middle were not completely done, they were just warm. So the next time I make these I will cook them a few minutes longer.Reply
Kristyn
Quick & easy!! My kids love stuffed shells & they are so picky, but your recipe is one they don't complain about!Reply
Maryam
Is there a way to add ground meat to the sauce in the instant pot? Recipe is great as written, but my husband loves extra protein!Reply
Allyson
You can cook the ground beef separately in a skillet, then add to the filling and stuff the shells 🙂 Follow the directions from there.
Reply
Olivia
Everyone in my house loved these stuffed shells!! Definitely adding it to our weekly dinner menu, thank you for sharing!Reply
Allyson
So happy to hear that! I love this shortcut!
Reply