When you stick to traditional recipes and one or two cuisines, you can start running out of ideas pretty quickly. Soon enough, you’re making the same pasta dinner you made two nights ago and the kids are not happy. Sure, you can perfect your favorite recipes, but cooking the same thing every week must get boring.
That’s when you get to spice things up by combining two different cuisines. Taco stuffed shells are a spin on a classic pasta recipe. Instead of filling your pasta shells with beef and ricotta, you get to invite some Mexican into your kitchen! If you’ve got some ingredients from taco night left over, you can put them to good use.
How to make Taco Stuffed Shells?
Cook your pasta shells to al dente.
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Preheat the oven to 375 F degrees.
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Grease your casserole dish.
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Cook beef, onion, bell pepper, and garlic in a skillet over medium-high heat until the meat is browned. Don’t forget to stir!
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Add your diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, and water to the skillet. Cook for about 10 minutes and stir occasionally.
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Spread the first half of the salsa in the casserole dish.
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Fill your pasta shells with the meat mixture and place them in the casserole dish.
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Add the second part of the salsa on top of the pasta shells and sprinkle some cheese over it.
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Cover your casserole dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
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Serve while it’s hot!
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What do you serve with taco stuffed shells?
Serve your taco stuffed shells with traditional taco sides. Those include lettuce, guacamole, pico de gallo, and sour cream. You can even bring a bowl of tortilla chips and salsa to the table to complete your Mexican feast.
Can you make taco stuffed shells with chicken?
Yes, of course! You can make taco stuffed shells with your meat of choice. Poultry is a healthier alternative to beef or pork, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t use it. What really makes the flavor is the seasoning, so make sure to stock up on your herbs and spices!
Can you make taco stuffed shells with pulled meat?
Though minced meat is the standard choice for taco stuffed shells, establishments often prepare their tacos with pulled meat. The difference here is that tacos are usually assembled, while in taco stuffed shells, all ingredients are cooked to completion together. You can try using pulled meat if you prefer, but make sure you don’t overcook it in the oven.
Ingredients
Instructions