Mexican Stuffed Shells - Recipe Diaries (2024)

Mexican Stuffed shells are filled with seasoned taco flavored beef and topped with cheese! These are great if you're looking for something different for Taco Tuesday night.

I was very tired today and really wanted to come home and take a nap. Instead, I ended up cooking and made three things. A frozen key lime pie, banana bread muffins, and this dish for Mexican stuffed shells.

I am home alone this weekend and decided to make these Mexican stuffed shells since there was cheese on top and cream cheese in the middle. Boy let me tell you something, these Mexican Shells did not disappoint.

I used lean ground beef and low-fat cream cheese to keep these a tad on the lighter side. For garnish used some tomatoes and parsley. One of the best pasta dishes I've made in a long time. Will definitely make this dish again.

Ingredients Needed

• Ground beef (93% lean) - Is considered better than higher fat options for several reasons. First, it has less saturated fat, which can contribute to heart disease and other health issues. Additionally, it tends to have fewer calories per serving, making it a good option for those watching their weight. The 96% lean ground beef from Aldi is my favorite.
• Yellow onion, diced
• Taco seasoning - Is a blend of spices used to flavor ground beef or other meats for use in tacos. It typically includes a combination of chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and sometimes salt and pepper. It can be purchased pre-mixed, or made at home using individual spices. I usually buy the Lower Sodium Taco Seasoning packets such as Mrs Dash.
• Fat free cream cheese - I like to use Reduced-Fat Cheese because it has a lower calorie count and less saturated fat than regular cheese, but it may also have a different taste and texture. It also helps with keeping the calorie count pretty low for this recipe.
• Pasta shells - jumbo sized
• Enchilada sauce - use your favorite brand, I like Trader Joes or Old El Paso.
• Salsa - Use your favorite jarred or prepared salsa
• Reduced fat colby jack cheese - I like to use Reduced-Fat Cheese because it has a lower calorie count and less saturated fat than regular cheese, but it may also have a different taste and texture. It also helps with keeping the calorie count pretty low for this recipe.
• See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

How to Make Stuffed Shells

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Boil your pasta shells for about 10 minutes until cooked al dente. Rinse shells when done cooking.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2: Meanwhile, cook up your ground beef and onions over medium-high heat until cooked thoroughly. Drain the excess grease from the pan. Add in taco seasoning and stir to mix. Add in cream cheese and cook over medium heat until cheese is mixed in and melty throughout. Set aside.

Step 3: Combine your enchilada sauce and salsa in a small bowl. Pour about half of your enchilada sauce salsa mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 pan and spread around.

See Also

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Step 4: Fill each jumbo shell with a heaping 1 TBS of meat mixture and place into pan with sauce. Repeat until all shells or meat mixture is gone. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce salsa mixture over the tops of the shells. Top with cheese. Bake for 30 minutes.

Wrap pan in aluminum foil.

Return to oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Other Recipes To Try

If you tried this Mexican Stuffed Shells orany other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries

Recipe adapted from Like Mother Like Daughter

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