• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Cookin Chicks
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About Me
    • Recipe Index
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Chicken

    Chicken Pesto Stuffed Shells

    Published: May 23, 2012 by Kristin Leave a Comment

    FacebookTweetPinYummlyEmail
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Chicken Pesto Stuffed Shells could not be simpler to prepare. It’s an easy dinner idea that’s perfect for family meals and any occasion! Packed with flavor, this dish is a must try!

    cheesy pesto chicken stuffed pasta shells

    Chicken Pesto Pasta

    Are you a pasta lover? In my house, we LOVE pasta! Pure comfort food, tons of variations to try, and a quick meal option!
    Last week, I found a box of pasta shells in my pantry that I had completely forgotten about! Since I was trying to prep dinner early due to a busy evening ahead, I decided to pull the box out and go the stuffed shells route.
    My original plan was to use some spaghetti sauce and simply add some cooked beef to the shells with sauce on top. Similar to spaghetti, only stuffed shell version.
    Of course, when I went to grab the spaghetti sauce, I realized I was out and only had Pesto.
    I pulled out some cooked, shredded chicken from my freezer, mixed it with the cream cheese, and in no time, had a pesto chicken mixture ready to stuff into the shells.

    a pan of baked stuffed shells

    Tender pasta shells stuffed with a creamy, Pesto chicken mixture and topped with cheesy goodness in every bite!
    This dinner was prepped in only about 15 minutes, and I was able to set it aside until dinnertime came around and into the oven it went! Easy peasy and a family favorite!

    all the ingredients needed for pesto stuffed shells

    Ingredients Needed for Pesto Chicken Stuffed Shells:

    Jumbo Pasta Shells
    Cream Cheese, softened
    Parmesan- grated 
    Pesto (store bought or homemade)
    Shredded chicken- Rotisserie chicken is great in this meal
    Garlic, minced
    cooked pasta shells with pesto chicken inside

    How to prepare Chicken Pesto Stuffed Shells:

    In a large pot, boil water and cook pasta shells until al dente. Drain the shells and set aside.
    In a large bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients, excluding the 1/4 cup of cheese for the topping.
    Fill the shells with the chicken mixture and place in a baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup cheese over the top

    Preheat oven to 350 and bake for about 30 minutes, or until shells are bubbly and cheese is melted.

    **A little tip is to make a little extra pesto sauce and pour it on top of the shells prior to cooking. This will allow the shells to stay moist and not dry out.

    Love stuffed shells? Check out these other great recipes:

    Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells

    Mexican Stuffed Shells

    Instant Pot Stuffed Shells

    Stuffed Lasagna Shells

    pasta shells stuffed with pesto chicken and cheese

    How to store leftovers:

    Once baked, these can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    If freezing, place in a freezer safe container in your freezer for up to 3 months.

    What to serve with Chicken Pesto Stuffed Shells

    Whether you serve with a salad, bread item, or fruit…you can’t go wrong! Here are some great options from the blog!

    Chopped Caprese Salad

    Mini Garlic Monkey Bread

    Garlic Cheese Crescents

    chicken pesto stuffed shells ready to bake in the oven

    cheesy pesto chicken stuffed pasta shells
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Chicken Pesto Stuffed Shells

    Chicken Pesto Stuffed Shells could not be simpler to prepare. It’s an easy dinner idea that’s perfect for family meals and any occasion! Packed with flavor, this dish is a must try!
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Keyword: pasta shells, pesto, pesto chicken, stuffed shells
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 343kcal
    Author: The Cookin' Chicks

    Equipment

    • 9x13 baking pan
    • Garlic Press

    Ingredients

    • 18 jumbo pasta shells
    • 5 oz cream cheese *softened
    • 1 cup Parmesan cheese *grated
    • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese *grated, this is for the top
    • 5 tablespoon Pesto sauce *store bought or homemade (see recipe above)
    • 2 cups chicken *cooked/shredded
    • 3 cloves garlic *minced

    Instructions

    • In a large pot, boil water and cook pasta shells until al dente. Drain the shells and set aside. 
    • In a large bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients, excluding the 1/4 cup of cheese for the topping. 
    • Fill the shells with the chicken mixture and place in a baking dish.
    • Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup cheese over the top 
    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for about 30 minutes, or until shells are bubbly and cheese is melted

    Notes

    **A little tip is to make a little extra pesto sauce and pour it on top of the shells prior to cooking. This will allow the shells to stay moist and not dry out.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 343kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 539mg | Potassium: 144mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 757IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 299mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @TheCookinChicks or tag #TheCookinChicks!

     

     

    More Chicken

    • Sour Cream Enchiladas
    • Incredible Chicken Piccata Pasta
    • Forgotten Chicken
    • Simple Chicken Gravy
    FacebookTweetPinYummlyEmail

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to The Cookin' Chicks…I am so glad you've stopped by! I am Kristin, a busy mom of 3, a wife, and a family chef! There are three things that motivate me each day - Family, Faith, and FOOD! I, along with the occasional help of friends and family, want to share my food creations with you! So, I invite you to join me around my dinner table through the recipes that I will share with you here. I hope you will enjoy the journey as much as I do!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Pull Apart Pizza Bread
    • Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shots
    • RumChata Root Beer Floats
    • Salted Caramel Martini

    Casserole recipes

    • Chicken Pot Pie Bubble Up Casserole
    • BEST EVER Chicken and Rice Casserole
    • Parmesan Chicken Casserole
    • Biscuits and Gravy Breakfast Casserole

    check out all casseroles

    Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Follow Me

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Legal

    • Contributors
    • Privacy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 The Cookin Chicks

    Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

    Email sent!