This is a favorite during an American-style celebration for Cinco De Mayo, we love to partake in the festivities with this Americanized delicious casserole.
The casserole is easy to make any weeknight and even delicious enough to serve guests
Taco meat stuffed into a large pasta shell covered in a wonderful sauce and loaded with melted cheese.
The whole meal from start to finish can be made in less than an hour.
Kids love this and the young at heart will enjoy this dish
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You may be more familiar with Mom's classic Italian Style Stuffed Shells with ricotta cheese and Italian sauces, this takes a new spin on that popular traditional style casserole and a nice change.
For this delicious easy recipe scroll to the bottom of the page, hit print to avoid ads, and let's get this dinner on the table!
Easy Steps for Making Stuffed Shells and Tips:
- Boil the stuffed shells according to the package instructions
- Make your favorite filling for tacos or our recipe below
- Stuff the shells
- Top with sauce and cheese
- Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling
- Tips: any cooked meats can be used ground or left chunkier
- Use your favorite sauce or canned tomatoes
- Season the sauce to your own taste with chili or taco seasonings
- Add hot sauce or cayenne pepper for a spicier meal
- Cook the shells to Al dente they will finish cooking in the oven
- Add more sauce and cheese if you love a real saucy casserole and cheesy
- These can be frozen for a quick meal and made ahead of time
Shopping list (full recipe in the printable recipe card below at the bottom):
- jumbo pasta shells ground beef ground turkey or ground chicken
- onion, finely chopped
- garlic, minced
- taco seasoning mix
- pinto or black beans, drained and rinsed
- sharp cheddar cheese and more if needed for the top
- taco sauce, crushed tomatoes, or salsa
- Garnish: sour cream, shredded cheese, more salsa warmed, diced tomato, diced avocado, diced onions, sliced black or green olives
Garnish:
- any kinds of sliced olives
- any kinds of shredded cheese or queso
- chopped onions, jalapenos, diced tomatoes, diced peppers
- sour cream
- avocado slices or guacamole
- salsa
- corn
- crumbled bacon
- tortilla chips, or crackers
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Taco Stuffed Shells
This recipe for taco stuffed shells is a twist on the traditional Italian style stuffed shells with a filling addition of taco beef and cheese.
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 55 MinTotal time: 1 H & 10 M
Ingredients
- 20 jumbo pasta shells
- 1 pound ground beef ground turkey or ground chicken
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix
- 1 - 14-ounce can of pinto or black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese and more if needed for the top
- 2 cups taco sauce, crushed tomatoes, or salsa
- Garnish: sour cream, shredded cheese, more salsa warmed, diced tomato, diced avocado, diced onions, sliced black or green olives
Instructions
- Grease a 13 x 9 baking pan, Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook the large shells according to package instructions, then drain them, do not rinse (add a little olive oil or cooking spray to keep them apart from sticking) then set aside.
- In a large fry pan, saute the meat until all the pink is gone.
- Drain the fat or blot with a paper towel in the pan.
- In the same pan add the onion and garlic then saute in that same pan for 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Stir in the beans and taco mix.
- Simmer on low heat for around 3 minutes.
- In a medium-sized bowl add 1 cup of the sauce with the cheese and combine together.
- Pour one cup of sauce into a greased casserole dish and set it aside.
- Stuff each shell with the bean and the meat mixture.
- Pour the rest of the sauce and cheese mixture on top (and add more cheese if you prefer).
- Note: for a very saucy casserole you can add more of the sauce you're using.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until the cheese melts.
Notes
Easy Steps for Making Stuffed Shells and Tips:
- Boil the stuffed shells according to the package instructions
- Make your favorite filling for tacos or our recipe below
- Stuff the shellsTop with sauce and cheese
- Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling
- Tips: any cooked meats can be used ground or left chunkier
- Use your favorite sauce or canned tomatoes
- Season the sauce to your own taste with chili or taco seasonings
- Add hot sauce or cayenne pepper for a spicier meal
- Cook the shells to Al dente they will finish cooking in the oven
- Add more sauce and cheese if you love a real saucy casserole and cheesy
- These can be frozen for a quick meal and made ahead of time
Garnish:
- any kinds of sliced olives
- any kinds of shredded cheese or queso
- chopped onions, jalapenos, diced tomatoes, diced peppers
- sour cream
- avocado slices or guacamole
- salsa
- corn
- crumbled bacon
- tortilla chips, or crackers
These are all copyright-protected images and content. Do not reprint/reuse this recipe or its images without my written permission.
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Try Some of Our Other Favorite Recipes
Chili Mac
Hot Dog Chili
Vegetarian Chili
Fish Tacos with Chili Lime Sauce
Old World Chili
Italian Chili Merlot
Vegetarian Chili
Guinness Chili
White Chicken Chili
Texas Beef Skillet
Taco pasta looks so flavourful and comforting.
ReplyDeleteWhile I have often considered making stuffed shells, I don't think I ever have. This looks like a nice alternative to the Italian version when Hispanic is desired.
ReplyDelete