Absolutely! Here’s a delicious taco-stuffed pasta shells recipe — combining the cheesy, hearty goodness of pasta with the bold flavors of taco meat 🌮🧀🍝.
Taco-Stuffed Pasta Shells
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
For the pasta shells:
- 12–16 jumbo pasta shells
- Salt for boiling water
For the filling:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or turkey
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tbsp homemade taco spice)
- ½ cup tomato sauce or salsa
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
For assembly:
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)
- ½ cup salsa or enchilada sauce
- Optional toppings: sour cream, chopped cilantro, diced tomatoes, sliced olives
Instructions
1. Cook the Pasta Shells
- Boil pasta shells according to package instructions until al dente.
- Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking.
2. Prepare the Taco Filling
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground meat until browned.
- Add onion and garlic; cook 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Stir in taco seasoning and tomato sauce or salsa. Simmer 2–3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup shredded cheese.
3. Stuff the Shells
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Spread a thin layer of salsa or sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spoon taco filling into each pasta shell and place in the dish.
4. Bake
- Pour remaining salsa or sauce over the stuffed shells.
- Sprinkle additional shredded cheese on top.
- Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 5–10 minutes until cheese is bubbly.
5. Serve
- Garnish with sour cream, cilantro, or other toppings.
- Serve with a side of Mexican rice or a simple salad.
Tips & Variations
- Vegetarian option: Use black beans or lentils instead of meat.
- Spice it up: Add chopped jalapeños or a few dashes of hot sauce.
- Cheesy overload: Mix cream cheese or ricotta into the filling for extra creaminess.
- Make-ahead: Assemble shells in the dish, cover, and refrigerate. Bake directly from fridge, adding 10–15 minutes.
If you want, I can also make a slow-cooker version of taco-stuffed shells where everything cooks together and stays extra juicy.
Do you want me to do that?
