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Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Taco Stuffed Shells | The Recipe Critic


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These taco stuffed shells are bursting with taco meat and melty cheese and loaded with all of your favourite toppings. Your loved ones will love the enjoyable twist of Mexican flavors baked inside tender jumbo pasta shells.

This recipe is a fast and straightforward weeknight meal and you’ll by no means go unsuitable with pasta. Adults and youngsters love pasta, that’s why these shells are a no brainer. For simpler pasta recipes I’ve you coated. I’ve scrumptious pasta recipes with shrimp, hen, and sausage as a result of I’m all about preserving everybody glad!

Close view of a wooden spoon lifting up a taco stuffed shell from the baking dish. Cilantro and tomatoes are garnished on top and on the side of the baking dish.

What Are Taco Stuffed Shells?

Basic stuffed shells are an Italian-inspired dish, however these shells are filled with scrumptious taco flavors as an alternative! Pasta is an ideal base to tackle any flavors you pair it with. Swap out your laborious taco shells with comfortable pasta…it’s unexpectedly tasty! Your loved ones will love this new tackle taco night time, I can’t wait so that you can do that recipe!

Everybody is aware of and loves these traditional stuffed shells, but it surely’s enjoyable to discover new flavors with pasta. These taco stuffed shells don’t disappoint! For extra taco-inspired meals do that soup or this salad. They’re each so yummy and bursting will tasty taco vibes!

Substances Wanted

All the things about these shells is superb. It begins with a floor beef combination with tomatoes and taco seasoning. Then you definately combine in shredded cheese which provides the meat such scrumptious taste! Observe the recipe card beneath for actual measurements and also you’re all set.

  • Jumbo Pasta Shells: Boil your shells based on the package deal and have all of them able to assemble in your meat.
  • Floor Beef: Floor beef or floor turkey works right here.
  • Water: Helps moisten the taco combination for spooning into shells.
  • Taco Seasoning: My home made seasoning is superb however you need to use storebought.
  • Fireplace-Roasted Tomatoes: One can of fire-roasted tomatoes provides nice taste and texture.
  • Mexican Cheese: Shredded Mexican-style cheese is the proper cheese for these shells.
  • Cilantro, Bitter Cream, and Inexperienced Onions: High your shells with chopped cilantro and a dollop of bitter cream! Inexperienced onions and olives could be scrumptious too!

Taco Stuffed Shells Recipe

Stuffing shells are straightforward and enjoyable to make! The most effective half is that it’s a one-pan meal and it comes collectively shortly on busy weeknights. Observe my directions beneath on the recipe card and make this recipe part of your weekly dinner rotation.

  1. Prepare dinner the Shells: Prepare dinner your pasta shells al dente, based on the package deal directions. Put aside.
  2. Preheat Oven and Put together Pan: Preheat your oven to 350 levels Fahrenheit and put together a 9X13 inch baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray.
  3. Add Beef, Water, and Seasoning to Skillet: In a big skillet, over medium-high warmth, cook dinner your floor beef till it’s all browned all through, drain the fats from the meat, and add in your water and taco seasoning. Scale back the warmth to medium and cook dinner the taco seasoning into the bottom beef, stirring constantly till it’s all coated.
  4. Add Tomatoes and Cheese: To the pan, add the crushed tomatoes with juice and 1 cup of cheese. Proceed stirring and cook dinner till the components are included and the cheese is melted.
  5. Stuff Shells and High With Cheese: Spoon the meat combination into the cooked pasta shells then place them into the ready baking dish. As soon as all of the shells are within the dish, cowl with the remaining 1 cup of cheese.
  6. Bake Shells: Cowl your stuffed pan with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes. You need the shells to be warmed all through and the cheese to be melted on high.
  7. Broil: If you wish to brown your cheese, take away the foil and set your oven to broil on excessive, for only a couple minutes.
  8. Serve: Take pleasure in contemporary with chopped cilantro, bitter cream, and inexperienced onions!
First photo of the taco meat mixture in a skillet. Second photo of the cooked shells. Third photo are all the shells stuffed with the taco meat. Fourth photo is shredded cheese sprinkled on top of the shells.

What to Serve With Taco Stuffed Shells

Taco stuffed shells are a one-pan meal, however you may make the meal full with some scrumptious sides. I’ve some yummy concepts for you. I even have some dessert concepts that associate with this taco theme. Your loved ones will love this meal a lot that they are going to be begging you to make it on a regular basis.

  • Salad: A gorgeous inexperienced salad would make this meal full! You’ll be able to preserve it easy inexperienced salad, or stick with the theme and make this yummy Mexican corn salad.
  • Vegetable: Recent corn on the cob or broccoli could be good with these shells.
  • Fruit: You’ll be able to by no means go unsuitable with fruit. It’s a wholesome scrumptious facet to any dinner.
  • Salsa: I like a salsa that may be loved each as a topping and a facet! Do that superb avocado salsa.
  • Dessert: If in case you have time, it’s a must to make dessert and I extremely suggest this churro cheesecake or traditional tres leches cake!

Top view of taco stuffed shells in a baking dish and garnished with diced cilantro and tomatoes. A wooden spoon is lifting up some cooked shells.

Storing Leftovers

Leftover taco stuffed shells make an incredible lunch the following day! They reheat completely and may be loved at a later time or everytime you need. Observe my storing directions beneath and also you’re all set.

  • Within the Fridge: Place leftover taco stuffed shells in an hermetic container after which within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
  • Within the Freezer: Seal cooked shells in an hermetic container. Place them within the freezer then freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw earlier than reheating.
  • To Reheat: Reheat the shells within the microwave for two minutes. It’s also possible to reheat them within the oven by putting them in a baking dish. Cowl with foil and bake at 350 levels Fahrenheit till scorching and bubbly. Sprinkle extra shredded cheese on high if desired and bake till melted.

Close up view of taco stuffed shells on a plate. A gold fork is resting on the plate next to the shells.


  • Prepare dinner your pasta shells al dente, based on the package deal directions. Put aside.

  • Preheat your oven to 350 levels Fahrenheit and put together a 9X13 inch baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray.

  • In a big skillet, over medium-high warmth, cook dinner the bottom beef till it’s all browned all through, drain the fats from the meat, and add in your water and taco seasoning.

  • Scale back the warmth to medium and cook dinner the taco seasoning into the bottom beef, stirring constantly till it’s all coated.

  • To the pan, add the crushed tomatoes with juice and 1 cup of cheese. Proceed stirring and cooking till the components are included and the cheese has melted.

  • Stuff your cooked pasta shells and place the stuffed shells into the ready baking dish. As soon as all of the shells are stuffed and within the dish, cowl with the remaining 1 cup of cheese.

  • Cowl your stuffed pan with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes. You need the shells to be warmed all through and the cheese melted on high.

  • If you wish to brown your cheese, take away the foil and set your oven to broil on excessive, for only a couple minutes.

  • Take pleasure in contemporary with chopped cilantro, bitter cream, and inexperienced onions!



Serves: 6

Serving2shellsEnergy555kcal (28%)Carbohydrates47g (16%)Protein30g (60%)Fats27g (42%)Saturated Fats12g (60%)Polyunsaturated Fats1gMonounsaturated Fats10gTrans Fats1gLdl cholesterol89mg (30%)Sodium465mg (19%)Potassium367mg (10%)Fiber3g (12%)Sugar4g (4%)Vitamin A687IU (14%)Vitamin C2mg (2%)Calcium295mg (30%)Iron3mg (17%)

All dietary info is predicated on third celebration calculations and is barely an estimate. Every recipe and dietary worth will range relying on the manufacturers you employ, measuring strategies and portion sizes per family.

Course Dinner

Delicacies Mexican

Key phrase taco stuffed shells



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