Mexican Stuffed Pasta Shells Recipe
Indulge in a fiesta of flavors with our Mexican Stuffed Pasta Shells recipe. This culinary creation seamlessly blends the bold and zesty essence of Mexican cuisine with the comforting embrace of pasta. A savory symphony unfolds as succulent ground beef or turkey, kissed by low-sodium taco seasoning, mingles with velvety cream cheese. These flavorful concoctions are then lovingly nestled within tender jumbo pasta shells and bathed in a vibrant salsa and taco sauce embrace. A crescendo of cheddar and Monterrey jack cheese crowns these shells, creating a bubbling, cheesy masterpiece. Topped with fresh green onions and served with dollops of sour cream, this dish transforms your dining table into a festival of taste sensations. Elevate your mealtime repertoire with this unforgettable culinary fusion that's as fun to make as it is to savor.
20 Servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 package low-sodium taco seasoning
- 4 oz. cream cheese
- 20 jumbo pasta shells about 6 oz.
- 1 1/2 c. salsa
- 1 c. taco sauce
- 1 c. cheddar cheese or just use all of one kind of cheese
- 1 c. Monterrey jack cheese
FOR TOPPINGS:
- 3 green onions
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Begin by browning 1 pound of either ground beef or turkey in a pan. Then add a package of low-sodium taco seasoning as per the instructions on the package. Stir in 4 ounces of cream cheese until it melts and set it aside.
- Next, cook around 20 pasta shells until they're al dente and then drain them.
- Take a 9x13 baking dish and spread about 1 and a half cups of salsa evenly across it.
- Now fill each shell with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture making sure to place them side up in the dish.
- Drizzle about 1 cup of taco sauce over the shells. Cover the dish with foil. Bake it at a temperature of 350°F for around 15 to 20 minutes.
- After that remove the foil. Sprinkle 1 cup of either cheddar or Monterey jack cheese, over the shells. Place it back in the oven for another 5 to 10 minutes until you see that the cheese has melted perfectly.
- To finish off garnish your creation with some chopped onions and serve it alongside some sour cream. Enjoy your meal!
Notes
To create a gluten-free version of this recipe make sure that all the ingredients you use are certified gluten-free. Pay attention to the taco seasoning, pasta shells and taco sauce. It's important to choose gluten-free options for these. Thankfully many stores now carry gluten-free versions of these products. Just follow the instructions as before. Replace the regular pasta shells with gluten-free ones. This way you can savor a twist, on the Mexican Stuffed Pasta Shells recipe that's completely gluten-free.