These Taco Stuffed Shells make for an easy but absolutely delicious dinner! This is a taco twist on your favorite stuffed shells recipe!
If there is one thing my family loves as much as tacos, it is pasta. We regularly have pasta night in our house, and our kids can literally smell the noodles boiling. They come running into the kitchen cheering.
So, it only seems natural to combine our two favorite obsessions – tacos and pasta – into these Taco Stuffed Shells.
THESE. ARE. AMAZING!
They went into my short meal rotation after the very first time.
Thank you!!!
How to Make Taco Stuffed Shells
This is a brief overview of how to make this fantastic recipe. For the full recipe with all of the measurements and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Boil the noodles. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the shells according to package instructions. Be sure to note the time on the box of shells for how long they should boil. They will cook longer in the oven, so they should not be over cooked when boiling.
- Make the filling. We are essentially making my taco meat, with the addition of onion and garlic. In the end we also add in some frozen corn.
- Assemble the stuffed shells. To put this great casserole together, pour half the salsa on the bottom of the pan. Then fill the shells with the filling. Top with the remaining salsa and the cheese.
- Bake the stuffed shells. These bake for about 35 minutes.
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Taking Shortcuts
I’m all for taking short cuts in the kitchen if that is what makes your life easier. The most important thing in our house is the time we spend around the table together. So whatever it takes to get you there.
Salsa: I have a great Blender Salsa recipe. My six year old is obsessed with it. It is a 10 minute recipe that makes 6 cups. Use two of them for this recipe. Or take a short cut and use store bought salsa.
Taco Seasoning: We never buy taco seasoning because we prefer our homemade taco seasoning recipe so much. The recipe is written in two parts, measurements to replace the store bought packet, or a big batch to keep on hand all the time. Three tablespoons of that big batch is used here and is the same amount that you get from the packet. Either will work great here!
Blender Salsa
Ground Beef vs. Ground Turkey
You can use ground beef or ground turkey in this recipe. Our family prefers the taste of ground turkey, so that is what we use. If you choose ground beef, you can eliminate the oil and add in the onion and garlic once the beef has been broken up.
Shredding Cheese
One thing that makes stuffed shells the comfort food that they are, is the melted cheese. To get the most enjoyment out of this recipe possible, shred cheese right from the block. It melts and tastes better than pre-shredded cheese.
How to Freeze Stuffed Shells
To freeze this recipe, make it in a disposable baking dish. After topping with cheese, wrap three times with aluminum foil. Freeze for up to three months.
When you are ready to bake, remove all but 1 layer of aluminum foil. The stuffed shells can go right from the freezer to the oven. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 to 50 minutes. Remove the foil and then continue baking for another 5 minutes.
FAQ
Yes! If your family doesn’t like corn, you could substitute black beans or just leave them out all together.
Yes! Assemble the stuffed shells, top with cheese, cover and refrigerate. Bake within 24 hours. You will need to add an extra 5 to 10 minutes to the baking time.
Taco Stuffed Shells
Ingredients
- 12 oz jumbo pasta shells
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- small yellow onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 16 ounces ground turkey
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning (or 1 ounce storebought packet)
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 16 ounces salsa my blender salsa or storebought salsa would both work great here
- 2 cups colby jack cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350. Spray a 9 by 13 inch pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- Boil a large pot of water and cook the shells according to package instructions (see note). When the shells are finished cooking, drain them and rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, heat up the oil. Add in the onion and garlic and saute for 5 minutes until the onions are translucent. Add in the turkey and break up, cooking it until it is browned. Drain any excess grease from the skillet.
- Add in the tomato sauce and taco seasoning. Bring to a simmer and then turn low. Cook for 5 minutes stirring occasionally. Stir in the frozen corn.
- Spread half of the salsa over the bottom of the pan. Spoon a small amount of the turkey mixture into 24 shells (you will have shells left over), placing them seam side up on the salsa. Top with the remainder of the salsa and then add the shredded cheese.
- Cover with tin foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 3 to 5 until the cheese is nice and melty.
- Serve with toppings, like green onions, jalapeños, olives, shredded lettuce, and tomatoes, and enjoy!
Notes
Annie @Maebells says
I hate that “in between” funk after you come back from a nice vacation. It is hard to get back to a normal mindset sometimes! I am loving these stuffed shells! Such a fun spin!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
I absolutely pink puffy heart Jennie-o!! And I’m totally making this, BTW!
Jenn@BoiledNoodle says
These look delish!!!
clarissa perez says
thank lisa look very yum yum.
Kim Oliver says
THESE. ARE. AMAZING!
they went into my short meal rotation after the very first time.
Thank you!!!
I’m so glad you liked it!
Joyce W Counts says
If you make a lot of these and freeze on tray… then toss into a ziplock bag …. There could be enough for a couple of meals… or a family reunion! Easy way to feed a crowd with less work… pasta sauce in dish and frozen stuffed shells… sauce, cheese and dinner is on the way!
These are great tips!
Terri Jones says
I made this today. The only thing I changed was using ground pork instead of turkey. I already had the pork. Let me tell you, it’s absolutely delicious! I also made a tossed salad to go with it. 😋
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Nette says
Can I use something other then tomato sauce?? I have a reaction to the acid in it. Thank you!
I’ve only ever made this recipe as written. I have had people add baking soda to tomato sauce to neutralize the acid, though this isn’t something I’ve done myself.