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Home » Recipes

Taco Stuffed Shells

Dec 13, 2021 · 18 Comments

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Collage with three taco stuffed shells with a fork on a small plate on top, a casserole dish full of stuffed shells on the bottom, and the words "taco stuffed shells" in the center

A Mexican-inspired pasta dish, Taco Stuffed Shells with taco seasoned ground beef in a creamy, cheesy sauce stuffed in shells for an easy family meal.

Casserole dish filled with taco stuffed shells topped with fresh avocado, red onion, and cilantro, with a wooden spoon in the middle

Taco Stuffed Shells

Pasta and Mexican-inspired dishes are two staples at our house.  This Taco Stuffed Shells recipe is a delicious combination of the two, mixing taco seasoned ground beef with a creamy, cheesy sauce inside a pasta shell topped with a savory taco sauce for a full and yummy meal.

And just as with regular tacos, the most fun part is the toppings. Top them with fresh avocado, pico de gallo, salsa, guacamole, red onions, fresh cilantro, sour cream, or even some crushed up tortilla chips for some crunch.

How to Stuff Pasta Shells

The simplest way to stuff shells is just by spooning the filling into the cooked shells. It's fairly simple and doesn't require any additional equipment.

Another easy way to stuff pasta shells is to place all of the filling into a large zip bag. Cut one of the corners, and squeeze the filling out of the bag into the shells, like piping a cupcake.

Three taco stuffed shells on a small plate with a fork, topped with fresh avocado and cilantro

What to Serve with Taco Stuffed Shells

Serve your taco stuffed shells with traditional Mexican refried beans and rice and a fresh green salad.

You can also serve with some homemade tortilla chips and freshly made salsa.

More Mexican Inspired Recipes You'll Love

  • Chicken Nacho Bake - creamy Mexican casserole with chicken and taco seasoning, topped with crunch tortilla chips.
  • Rice and Black Bean Burritos - vegetarian burritos filled with so much comfort food and Mexican flavor. A perfectly delicious and filling dinner.
  • Skillet Southwest Smothered Chicken - spicy cheesy chicken, with southwestern flavors, seared and cooked in a skillet.
  • Three Cheese Enchiladas - vegetarian version of a Mexican favorite. Super easy, creamy, and cheesy!
  • Homemade Restaurant Style Salsa - salsa that's just as amazing as your favorite Mexican restaurant. Make it in just 5 minutes!
Casserole dish filled with taco stuffed shells topped with fresh avocado, red onion, and cilantro

Taco Stuffed Shells

A Mexican-inspired pasta dish, this Taco Stuffed Shells recipe mixes seasoned ground beef in a creamy, cheesy sauce to stuff in shells for a delicious meal.
5 from 16 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian, Mexican
Keyword: Stuffed Shells, Taco Stuffed Shells, Tex Mex Pasta
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 24 shells
Calories: 119kcal
Author: Michelle

Ingredients

  • 24 pasta shells cooked to package instructions
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 16 ounce bottle taco sauce
  • 1 8 ounce package cream cheese
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar divided
  • Fresh toppings such as cilantro and avocado for garnish

Instructions

  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground beef with garlic and onions. Drain and return to skillet.
  • Add chili powder, cumin, cayenne, and salt to taste. Stir to combine.
  • Add ¾ cups taco sauce, and stir to combine.
  • Bring mixture to a simmer.
  • Add cream cheese and stir until smooth and creamy.
  • Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup cheddar.
  • Spoon mixture into cooked shells (about 2 tablespoons of mixture per shell).
  • Place stuffed shells in a lightly greased 9"x13" baking dish.
  • Pour remaining taco sauce over stuffed shells, and top with remaining cheese.
  • Bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes, until cheese is melted and shells are warmed through.
  • Top with fresh ingredients such as avocado or cilantro for garnish.

Video

Notes

Nutrition facts are for one shell without any toppings.
  • For a cheesier flavor, you can use 8 ounces of melted Velveeta or nacho cheese instead of cream cheese.
  • Top with fresh toppings such as chopped cilantro, avocado, red onions, or pico de gallo to add a little freshness and color.
  • To make it vegetarian, use a (15 ounce) can of black beans, drained and rinsed, and a (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained, instead of ground beef.
  • Substitute salsa or enchilada sauce for taco sauce.
  • Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to a week.
  • Freezer Directions: Prepare and stuff shells, stopping at step 7. Then place shells into a covered freezer dish. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months. To use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Top with remaining cheese and taco sauce. Bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes (the extra time is to account for the cold baking dish).

Nutrition

Serving: 1shell | Calories: 119kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 75mg | Potassium: 89mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 1mg
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UPDATE INFO: This recipe was originally published in January 2016. It was updated with new pictures, video, and tips and republished in April 2021.

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Beef, Dinner, Freezer Meals, Mexican, Pasta, Recipes Ground Beef Recipe, Mexican Recipe, Pasta Recipe, Taco Stuffed Shells

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Katie says

    January 10, 2016 at 8:21 pm

    Wow - what a great idea! I love making Italian style stuffed shells, never would have thought to do this, and we love Mexican food just as much. Thanks for this great post, pinning for dinner next week, found you at Snickerdoodle Sunday!

    Reply
  2. Rina I Thee Cook says

    January 17, 2016 at 3:16 pm

    Thanks so much for linking up at Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop!

    Reply
  3. Tara says

    April 05, 2021 at 11:59 am

    Such a flavorful pasta dish! It sounds absolutely amazing and I love all the cheese, red onion, and avocado on top. Yum!

    Reply
  4. Jamie says

    April 05, 2021 at 12:21 pm

    My nephew loves tacos and this would be perfect for him! I love all the flavors and spices in this. Going to make this over the weekend!

    Reply
  5. Erika says

    April 05, 2021 at 12:22 pm

    One of my favorite dinners! Perfect for big families and so full of flavor!

    Reply
  6. Lauren says

    April 05, 2021 at 1:11 pm

    I never thought to use a Mexican inspired filling in pasta shells. I honestly can’t wait to try!

    Reply
  7. Bintu | Budget Delicious says

    April 05, 2021 at 1:15 pm

    This is such a flavourful pasta dish and a surefire family favourite for my family.

    Reply
  8. Shanna | Modern Meal Makeover says

    April 05, 2021 at 1:59 pm

    This is one of those meals that all of my family will eat. So delicious and it had so much flavor.

    Reply
  9. Pam Greer says

    April 05, 2021 at 2:13 pm

    Love this combination of recipes! We love stuffed shells and we love Mexican flavors! Perfect!

    Reply
  10. Kathryn says

    April 05, 2021 at 3:05 pm

    Taco stuffed shells is the perfect easy weeknight dinner for tonight. Thanks so much for this recipe! Love how cheesy it is!

    Reply
  11. Irina says

    April 05, 2021 at 3:11 pm

    Your taco stuffed shells are amazingly delicious! I made your recipe for our lunch today, and as usual, your recipe is a winner. Thanks!

    Reply
  12. Andrea says

    December 16, 2021 at 12:39 pm

    Such a great recipe. So happy to have found this! I love stuffed shells

    Reply
  13. Vicky says

    December 16, 2021 at 12:47 pm

    What a fun twist on traditional Italian stuffed shells! I also like this as alternative for taco Tuesday. Cheesy and delicious!

    Reply
  14. Nathan says

    December 16, 2021 at 2:08 pm

    These taco stuffed shells look so tasty, so many great flavors! Can't wait to try these myself for a dinner next week!

    Reply
  15. Claudia Lamascolo says

    December 16, 2021 at 2:41 pm

    I just love these and so does the family easy to make and delicious!

    Reply
  16. Sharon says

    December 16, 2021 at 4:26 pm

    This was super delicious! We definitely went with the homemade tortillas to serve alongside and are not mad about it. 🙂 So good. Thanks!

    Reply
  17. Heather Perine says

    December 16, 2021 at 5:46 pm

    Love stuffed shells and love tacos..so this was a huge hit in our house!

    Reply
  18. Sara Welch says

    December 16, 2021 at 8:04 pm

    Enjoyed this for dinner tonight and it was a hit all around the table! So bold and delicious; easily, a new favorite recipe! My whole family loved it!

    Reply

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Hello! I'm Michelle!
I'm a comfort food lover and self-taught cook with five amazing kids and a firefighter husband, surviving mostly on coffee. I love to create easy and delicious family recipes, and share creative family tips I've learned along the way.
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