Description
Mexican Stuffed Shells are a delicious twist on the classic Italian pasta dish, featuring jumbo pasta shells filled with seasoned ground beef and cream cheese, topped with salsa, taco sauce, and melted cheese. This crowd-pleasing recipe is perfect for family dinners and easy to customize with your favorite taco toppings like green onions and sour cream.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Filling
- 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 1 package low-sodium taco seasoning
- 4 ounces cream cheese
Pasta
- 20 jumbo pasta shells (about 6 ounces)
Sauces and Cheese
- 1 1/2 cups salsa
- 1 cup taco sauce
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese
Toppings
- 3 green onions, sliced
- Sour cream, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to get it ready for baking the stuffed shells.
- Cook Meat Mixture: In a pan, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Add the taco seasoning and prepare according to package directions. Stir in the cream cheese, cover the pan, and simmer until the cheese melts completely. Mix well and set aside to cool.
- Cook Pasta Shells: While the meat cooks, boil the jumbo pasta shells according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and lay them flat on a cutting board or baking sheet to prevent sticking.
- Assemble Dish: Pour salsa evenly on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Stuff each pasta shell with 1-2 tablespoons of the cooled meat mixture and place them open side up in the baking dish.
- Add Sauce and Bake: Pour taco sauce evenly over the stuffed shells. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes to heat through.
- Add Cheese and Finish Baking: Remove the foil and sprinkle shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the shells. Bake uncovered for another 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Top with sliced green onions or olives if desired. Serve warm with sour cream and extra salsa on the side.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or even plant-based meat alternatives to customize the protein.
- For a spicier dish, use a spicy salsa or add chopped jalapeños.
- Prepare the meat mixture ahead of time to save on assembly day.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat nicely in the oven or microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed shell
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
