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    Home » Beef

    Ultimate Taco Stuffed Shells

    Published: Sep 3, 2015 by Kristin Leave a Comment

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    Made with only seven ingredients in under an hour, these Ultimate Taco Stuffed Shells are the perfect recipe for busy weeknights when you still want to put a family-friendly dinner on the table.

    tender pasta shells filled with seasoned beef, cheese, and topped with enchilada sauce

    Easy Taco Stuffed Shells

    Yes, you read that right: taco-stuffed pasta shells! You no longer have to choose between Italian or Mexican food for dinner—this dish includes it all. Tender pasta shells filled with a creamy beef mixture, topped with enchilada sauce, cheese, and of course all the toppings you desire! What’s not to love, right?!

    Years ago, this recipe entered our meal rotation and since then, it has quickly become a family favorite! My kids love adding sour cream, extra cheese, and avocado slices to their portions. My hubby and I tend to add a splash of hot sauce, some diced jalapenos, and black olives. It’s a fun variation of Taco Tuesday and a dish the everyone will enjoy!

    Ingredients Needed for Ultimate Taco Stuffed Shells:

    Beef or Turkey- ground

    Taco Seasoning- homemade or 1 packet

    Cream Cheese

    Salsa- any type desired

    Taco Sauce

    Jumbo Pasta Shells

    Mexican Cheese- shredded

    Tortilla Chips- broken into smaller pieces

    Sour Cream/Jalapenos/Black Olives/Lettuce

    * See recipe card below for exact measurements

    How to prepare:

    Cook pasta shells according to package directions, cooking until al dente.

    Drain shells and lay onto parchment paper to allow to cool.

    In a skillet, cook the ground beef/turkey until no longer pink.

    Drain fat and add in the taco seasoning and cream cheese, stirring until melted.

    Add a spoonful of the meat mixture to the middle of the pasta shells.

    Place stuffed shells on the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 baking dish.

    Pour the salsa and taco sauce evenly over entire pan.

    Cover dish with tin foil and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.

    Remove foil, sprinkle cheese and chips on top and return to oven for an additional 10 minutes.

    Take out of oven and serve with desired toppings!!

    seasoned beef stuffed pasta shells topped with sour cream, jalapeno, and lettuce for a taco vibe

    Toppings to try on these Ultimate Taco Stuffed Shells

    Diced Avocado

    Chopped Tomatoes

    Hot Sauce

    Black Olives

    Shredded Lettuce

    Diced Jalapenos

    Green Chiles

    Extra Cheese

    Check out these other great recipes:

    Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza

    Mexican Chicken Bake

    Instant Pot Beef Enchilada Casserole

    Creamy White Chicken Enchiladas

    Taco Cornbread Bake

    pasta filled shells with taco beef and toppings
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Ultimate Taco Stuffed Shells

    Made with only seven ingredients in under an hour, these Ultimate Taco Stuffed Shells are the perfect recipe for busy weeknights when you still want to put a family-friendly dinner on the table.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Keyword: stuffed pasta shells, taco stuffed shells
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 521kcal
    Author: The Cookin' Chicks

    Equipment

    • 9x13 baking pan

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb beef *ground, or turkey
    • 1 packet taco seasoning *or homemade, see recipe above recipe card
    • 8 oz cream cheese
    • 16 oz salsa
    • 16 oz taco sauce
    • 1 lb jumbo pasta shells
    • 2 cups Mexican cheese *shredded
    • 1 cup tortilla chips *crushed
    • toppings of choice

    Instructions

    • Cook pasta shells according to package directions, cooking until al dente.
    • Drain shells and lay onto parchment paper to allow to cool.
    • In a skillet, cook the ground beef/turkey until no longer pink.
    • Drain fat and add in the taco seasoning and cream cheese, stirring until melted.
    • Add a spoonful of the meat mixture to the middle of the pasta shells.
    • Place stuffed shells on the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 baking dish.
    • Pour the salsa and taco sauce evenly over entire pan.
    • Cover dish with tin foil and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.
    • Remove foil, sprinkle cheese and chips on top and return to oven for an additional 10 minutes.
    • Remove from oven and serve with desired toppings!! Enjoy!!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 521kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 127mg | Sodium: 2018mg | Potassium: 481mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 2168IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 317mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @TheCookinChicks or tag #TheCookinChicks!

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    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!

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