Here’s a delicious recipe for Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells—a fun twist on traditional tacos and stuffed shells:
Ingredients (serves 4–6)
For the shells:
- 12–16 jumbo pasta shells
- Salt for boiling water
For the filling:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or turkey
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tablespoons homemade)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- Optional: 1/2 cup black beans or corn
For the sauce:
- 1 cup salsa (mild or medium)
- 1/2 cup sour cream or cream cheese (for creamier sauce)
Topping:
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
- Sliced jalapeños or diced tomatoes (optional)
Instructions
1. Cook the pasta
- Boil the jumbo pasta shells in salted water until al dente.
- Drain and set aside to cool slightly.
2. Make the taco filling
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef with onion and garlic until browned.
- Drain excess fat.
- Stir in taco seasoning and water. Simmer 2–3 minutes until mixture thickens slightly.
- Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup shredded cheese (and optional beans or corn).
3. Prepare the sauce
- Mix salsa and sour cream (or cream cheese) in a bowl until smooth.
4. Stuff the shells
- Spoon the taco filling into each cooked pasta shell.
- Place stuffed shells in a greased baking dish.
- Pour the salsa-sour cream sauce evenly over the shells.
5. Bake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Sprinkle additional shredded cheese over the top.
- Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 5–10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
6. Serve
- Garnish with cilantro, jalapeños, or diced tomatoes if desired.
- Serve hot, maybe with a side of guacamole or tortilla chips.
💡 Tips:
- Make it vegetarian by substituting beans, corn, and sautéed veggies for meat.
- To save time, assemble the dish ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Use a mix of cheeses for extra flavor: cheddar, Monterey Jack, and mozzarella work well.
If you want, I can also give a one-pan skillet version of taco stuffed shells that skips the oven entirely and cooks everything on the stove.
Do you want that version?
