Description
Creamy cheese and seasoned ground beef elevate these taco stuffed shells into a mouthwatering Mexican-inspired pasta dish. Melted cheese, zesty spices, and crisp toppings create a comforting meal that satisfies your craving for bold, hearty flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 1 (12-ounce) box jumbo pasta shells
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can corn, drained
- 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chilies (like Rotel), undrained
- 1 cup salsa
Seasonings and Cheese:
- 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Optional Toppings:
- chopped cilantro
- avocado
- green onions
- additional salsa
Instructions
- Prepare jumbo shells by boiling in salted water until tender, approximately 8-10 minutes. Drain thoroughly and rinse with cold water to halt cooking process.
- Heat large skillet over medium-high temperature. Crumble ground beef into pan, cooking until completely browned and no pink remains.
- Eliminate excess fat from beef. Sprinkle taco seasoning over meat, stirring to distribute evenly. Pour water and simmer for 5-6 minutes until liquid reduces.
- Incorporate black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes with green chilies into meat mixture. Stir continuously to ensure even heating.
- Remove skillet from heat. Blend salsa, cream cheese, half the cheddar cheese, and sour cream into meat mixture until smooth and consistent.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 9×13 inch baking dish. Generously fill each shell with prepared taco mixture, arranging carefully in prepared dish.
- Distribute remaining cheddar cheese evenly across stuffed shells.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese melts completely and edges become golden brown.
- Allow dish to rest for 10 minutes after removing from oven to set filling.
- Embellish with fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, chopped green onions, and additional salsa as desired.
- Serve immediately while warm and enjoy vibrant flavors.
Notes
- Choose jumbo shells that are sturdy and large enough to hold the hearty taco filling without breaking during cooking.
- Drain beef thoroughly to prevent watery filling, ensuring the shells stay crisp and packed with intense flavor.
- Softening cream cheese completely helps create a smooth, creamy texture that binds the taco mixture seamlessly.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey, plant-based crumbles, or shredded chicken for diverse dietary preferences and nutritional needs.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 401 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 630 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg