When it’s one of those crazy busy weeknights but you still want a meal that’s warm, comforting, and delicious, these frozen stuffed shells in the air fryer really hit the spot. I love grabbing a bag at Aldi when I see them, because they turn into an easy dinner any time I’m in a rush.
Why Make Frozen Stuffed Shells in the Air Fryer
Look, I love stuffed shells, but I admit that they take forever to boil the noodles, make the filling, wrangle the filling into the shells, and then wait for them to bake in your oven. The result is delicious, but sometimes you just don’t have time like that!
Enter frozen stuffed shells. Aldi makes a bagged version (which isn’t always available), but I’ve also seen them at Walmart and other stores as well, so they’re readily available. They’re pre-filled, frozen, and ready to cook.
That’s where your air fryer comes in. Sure, you can still bake frozen stuffed shells in your regular oven, but the air fryer comes up to temperature way faster, and cooks in nearly half the time of the oven. It’s a great time saver (and keeps the oven free if you want to make a side)!
Now, I cook this frozen version in sauce like traditional stuffed shells. However, you can also make a fun twist with crispy pasta as an appetizer. Check out my Taco Stuffed Shells in the Air Fryer for more info there!
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Ingredients For Frozen Stuffed Shells in the Air Fryer
- 20 ounce bag frozen stuffed shells, such as Aldi Priano brand
- 1 cup pasta sauce, divided
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or to taste)
Ingredient Tips and Notes
- You can use any brand of frozen stuffed shells you like, and any flavor (cheese, spinach and cheese, sausage and cheese, or similar)
- Use your favorite pasta sauce, and feel free to add more if you like a “saucier” version!
- Other optional additions could include a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, added Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes, or some fresh parsley on top. Feel free to customize!
Equipment Note
You will need some form of oven safe dish that fits in your air fryer’s basket or rack. This can vary by the model and size of your air fryer (and will determine how many shells you can cook at once).
If it’s oven safe, it’s air fryer safe, so look for a casserole, cake pan, loaf pan, or anything similar. I have a two basket dual zone air fryer so I split it into two loaf pans, but you can also use a single, larger pan if you have a single basket unit.
How to Cook Frozen Stuffed Shells in the Air Fryer
- To an oven safe dish (that fits in your air fryer) add ½ cup pasta sauce
- Add in the frozen stuffed shells in a single layer (they can touch, that’s fine)
- Top the shells with the remaining ½ cup pasta sauce
- Place into your air fryer’s basket or rack and cook on the air fry setting at 325°F for 25-30 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly and the shells are heated through. If the tops start to overbrown, you can add foil to slow it. This will slow down the cooking process, so I usually only do it near the end if needed
- Add the shredded mozzarella evenly on top
- Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and just starts to brown
- Serve warm with your favorite sides!
What to Serve With Stuffed Shells
- Green salad
- Caesar salad
- Roasted broccolini
- Sauteed spinach
- Fried zucchini
- Steamed broccoli
- Summer squash casserole
- Sausages
- Meatballs
- Garlic bread
- Italian bread
There are lots of great side dish options to complete your meal when stuffed shells are the main course! You can add vegetables, protein, or delicious breads for soaking up any extra sauce.
Some of my favorite things to serve with Aldi stuffed shells are Air Fryer Squash Casserole, Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs (also from Aldi), Air Fryer Italian Sausage, Frozen Garlic Knots in the Air Fryer, or some Frozen Texas Toast in the Air Fryer!
Recipe FAQs
Can You Cook Frozen Stuffed Shells In An Air Fryer?
Yes, you can cook frozen stuffed shells in an air fryer. It’s a faster alternative to a conventional oven when preheating time is factored in.
The air fryer provides a quick and efficient way to cook stuffed shells while adding a crispy texture on the outside and a warm, evenly cooked filling.
How Long Do You Cook Frozen Stuffed Shells In An Air Fryer?
Cooking times can vary depending on the air fryer model and the size of the shells, but generally, frozen stuffed shells take around 25-30 minutes at 325°F.
Be sure to check that the filling is heated through before serving.
Do You Need To Preheat The Air Fryer For Frozen Stuffed Shells?
You do not have to preheat your air fryer to make frozen stuffed shells.
However, if you preheat it for 2-3 minutes while you’re preparing the shells in the dish, it can save you 1-2 minutes of cooking time usually.
Should You Add Sauce When Cooking Frozen Stuffed Shells In An Air Fryer?
If you want your stuffed shells to be more traditional, then you should add sauce when cooking them. The sauce will help add moisture and keep the pasta from getting overly crispy.
However, if you want to serve them as an appetizer with a crunchy shell, you can skip the sauce (and the baking dish) and just cook the shells plain or with a light misting of oil (serve sauce for dipping on the side).
Can You Reheat Leftover Stuffed Shells In The Air Fryer?
Yes, leftover stuffed shells can be reheated in the air fryer (whether homemade or restaurant leftovers).
Simply place them in the air fryer at 350°F for 5-8 minutes, or until heated through. Use a baking dish or a piece of foil to prevent the sauce and cheese from running everywhere.
Do You Need To Thaw Frozen Stuffed Shells Before Air Frying?
No, you don’t need to thaw frozen stuffed shells before air frying.
You can cook them directly from frozen, which makes it a convenient option for a quick meal.
Recipe Pro Tips For the Best Air Fryer Frozen Stuffed Shells
- The key to keeping the shells from getting really hard and crunchy is the sauce. Make sure you spread the sauce over the top well (and feel free to add more if you like). You’ll get crispy edges (which is similar to the oven anyway) and moist shells this way!
- If you do want crunchy shells to serve as an appetizer, you can skip the sauce and fry them on their own (but you can serve with sauce on the side for dipping)!
- Exact cooking times can vary between different air fryers and shell sizes. I cooked the Aldi Priano shells to 165°F (as directed on the package) and it took about 30 minutes in my Ninja air fryer (verified via thermometer). I usually start checking after 20 minutes, and the sauce bubbling heavily is usually a sign you’re getting close
Storage and Reheating of Stuffed Shells
- Store any leftover stuffed shells in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Do not refreeze frozen shells once they have been cooked once (they tend to dry out too much)
- To reheat stuffed shells in the air fryer, place them in a small oven safe dish or on a piece of foil (to catch the sauce and cheese drips). Air fry at 350°F for about 5-8 minutes, until warmed through. Just like the initial cooking, time can vary a bit between air fryers and shell sizes, so adjust as needed for your particular situation
More Air Fryer Italian Recipes
- Air Fryer Manicotti
- Homemade Air Fryer Lasagna
- Air Fryer Focaccia
- Easy Air Fryer Gnocchi
Aldi Frozen Stuffed Shells Review
I made the Aldi Priano label brand cheese stuffed shells (in my air fryer) of course. Cooking them was very simple, since I basically just threw them in to cook and added cheese at the end. Faster than the oven, too, so overall I was pleased!
The air fryer gets them nicely crisp on the edges while still being soft and moist inside. I found the pasta itself to be nicely al dente texture wise, which I appreciate in a pasta dish (but if you want it really mushy you might be disappointed).
Where it loses muster for me a bit is the filling. It’s creamy and smooth, but overall relatively flavorless. If you have a picky eater, this might be a win, but for a normal person it’s severely lacking.
The addition of sauce and cheese is a must for flavor, and I think it would have been better if I’d added some Italian sausage or some extra herbs to it. To be clear, they’re not bad, but in my opinion they’re best treated as a base which you build on.
For a relatively quick and comforting dinner option, I’d buy them again, but with the knowledge I need to “jazz” them up a little bit. This preparation works fine with other brands of frozen shells, so you can definitely experiment with other options as well!
I served my shells with a green salad and some garlic breadsticks and it was the perfect compliment.
Final Thoughts
Making frozen stuffed shells in your air fryer, whether Aldi or another brand of your choice, is such a convenient meal option!
Since they’re already prepared, all you need to do is add sauce, any seasonings, and some cheese, and bake them to perfection. The air fryer doesn’t need the preheating time of the oven, so it saves you time cooking too!
It also leaves the oven open for other things, like warming a loaf of Italian bread to go with your meal, for soaking up that extra sauce. Yum! I love to keep a bag of frozen shells on hand for any time I need a quick and easy meal that’s comforting and delicious.
Frozen Stuffed Shells in the Air Fryer (Aldi)
Equipment
- Oven safe dish that fits in your air fryer
Ingredients
- 20 ounce bag frozen stuffed shells (such as Aldi Priano brand)
- 1 cup pasta sauce (divided)
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or to taste)
Instructions
- To an oven safe dish (that fits in your air fryer) add ½ cup pasta sauce1 cup pasta sauce
- Add in the frozen stuffed shells in a single layer (they can touch, but try not to overlap too much)20 ounce bag frozen stuffed shells
- Top the shells with the remaining ½ cup pasta sauce
- Place into your air fryer’s basket or rack and cook on the air fry setting at 325°F for 25-30 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly and the shells are heated through. If the tops start to overbrown, you can add foil to slow it. This will slow down the cooking process, so I usually only do it near the end if needed
- Add the shredded mozzarella evenly on top½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and just starts to brown
- Serve warm with your favorite sides!
Notes
- You can use any brand of frozen stuffed shells you like, and any flavor (cheese, spinach and cheese, sausage and cheese, or similar)
- Use your favorite pasta sauce, and feel free to add more if you like a “saucier” version!
- Other optional additions could include a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, added Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes, or some fresh parsley on top. Feel free to customize!
- The key to keeping the shells from getting really hard and crunchy is the sauce. Make sure you spread the sauce over the top well (and feel free to add more if you like). You’ll get crispy edges (which is similar to the oven anyway) and moist shells this way!
- If you do want crunchy shells to serve as an appetizer, you can skip the sauce and fry them on their own (but you can serve with sauce on the side for dipping)!
- Exact cooking times can vary between different air fryers and shell sizes. I cooked the Aldi Priano shells to 165°F (as directed on the package) and it took about 30 minutes in my Ninja air fryer (verified via thermometer). I usually start checking after 20 minutes, and the sauce bubbling heavily is usually a sign you’re getting close
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, sauces, seasonings, toppings, and sides added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
