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picture of Taco Stuffed Shells with 1 shell on wooden spoon

Taco Stuffed Shells

Delicious jumbo shells stuffed with a taco meat, diced tomatoes and cream cheese. Topped with salsa and shredded cheese baked to perfection!
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Mexican
Servings 6 people
Calories 400 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 skillet, cast iron, or dutch oven
  • 1 pot for boiling jumbo shells
  • 1 knife
  • 1 spatula
  • 1 cutting board

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb lean ground beef or ground turkey, venison, etc
  • 1 can diced tomatoes regular, fire roasted, tomatoes with chiles
  • 1 8 oz package cream cheese can use light
  • 1 12 oz box jumbo shells about 20-25 jumbo shells
  • 2 cups shredded cheese mexican blend, cheddar, colby jack
  • 2 cups salsa
  • 3/4 cup water or beef broth
  • 1 package taco seasoning
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • toppings of choice- sour cream, black beans avocado, etc.

Instructions
 

  • Heat skillet to medium high heat. Drizzle with olive oil. Add ground beef and onion, brown, drain and return to skillet. While browning the beef, prepare jumbo shells per package instructions, drain and set aside.
    picture of ground beef and onions for Taco Stuffed Shells
  • Add 3/4 cup water or beef broth, taco seasoning and diced tomatoes (not drained) to ground beef mixture. Let simmer about 5 minutes until most liquid has dissolved.
    picture of ground beef, tomatoes and seasonings for stuffed taco shells
  • Next add the cubed cream cheese, stir until well mixed and cream cheese is melted, 5 minutes approximately. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • If your skillet is oven safe, remove the beef mixture from the skillet so that you can re-use the pan. If it is not oven safe, find an oven safe skillet, dutch oven or casserole dish. Put 1 cup of salsa in the bottom of the pan or skillet, then add about 2 tbsp of beef mixture to each jumbo shell and set in pan until mixture is gone.
    stuffed jumbo shells with salsa on top
  • Lastly top with remaining salsa and sprinkle all of the cheese on top.Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until bubbling.
    Taco stuffed shells with cheese

Notes

Variations:
Replace ground beef with ground turkey or ground venison.
Add 1-2 cups of vegetables such as corn, bell peppers or even black beans (not a vegetable)
Freezer Option:
To freeze, prepare the meat mixture and jumbo shells. Follow the recipe, but do NOT bake. Place the shells topped with the salsa and cheese in a freezer casserole dish and cover with plastic wrap + foil. When ready to eat, thaw in refrigerator and then place in oven 350 F for 25-35 minutes until bubbling.
Keyword taco casserole, taco stuffed pasta, taco stuffed shells