"Get Stuffed" Mexican Stuffed Shells
These creamy Mexican stuffed shells will be a hit with the whole family.
We love quick and easy dinner recipes, and these "Get Stuffed" Mexican Stuffed shells are a new favorite!
Gooey, photo-worthy Cheddar cheese tops pasta shells that are filled with all kinds of delicious ingredients. Hearty ground beef, rich enchilada sauce, and spicy salsa verde team up for a Mexican-inspired flavor profile that can't be beat.
This recipe is delicious on its own, but try topping it with sour cream, scallions, and chopped tomatoes for that extra punch of flavor. Mexican stuffed shells is a dinner that the whole family will love, and the leftovers are terrific. Enjoy!
Serves4
Preparation Time20 min
Cooking Time30 min
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 (1.25-ounce) package taco seasoning
- 1 (4-ounce) package cream cheese
- 14 large pasta shells
- 1 cup verde salsa
- 1 cup enchilada sauce
- 2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
Try another of our favorite family-friendly Mexican dinner recipes!Mexican Meatballs
Mexican Stuffed Shells Recipe
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
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In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef for five minutes.
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Add taco seasoning.
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Once meat has cooked, add cream cheese. Stir and simmer until cheese is melted.
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While the ground beef is cooking, cook the pasta shells according to pasta package directions.
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To assemble shells, pour salsa on the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
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Stuff each shell with the meat mixture, approximately 2 tablespoons of mixture in each shell, and place shells in the dish with the open side facing up.
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Pour taco sauce on top of the shells and top with cheese.
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Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
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Remove foil and bake another 5 minutes to achieve brown bubbly cheese.
Editor's Tip: What to Eat with Mexican Stuffed Shells
Sometimes it's really easy to figure out what to serve with a main dish. Chicken gets rice or pasta and a vegetable. Spaghetti gets garlic bread and a salad, and so on. But recipes like this one can be a bit of a challenge!
With family dinner in mind, we've paired these Mexican stuffed shells with some of our favorite side dishes. Enjoy, and let us know in the comments what you like to eat with this recipe!
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Southern Corn Salad
This easy side dish is bright and refreshing. It's the perfect complement to the rich flavors of a cheesy entree. -
Colorful and Fresh Vegetable Salad
This isn't your average salad! It's brimming with fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, and kale. It's the perfect balance to an indulgent pasta dish. -
One Pot Summer Veggie Skillet
You can never go wrong with a veggie skillet! Since your oven will be busy baking this pasta dish, you can use the stove top to sautee up some delicious vegetables for a side. -
La Preferida Three Bean Panzanella Salad
This 3-bean salad is another great pairing with Mexican stuffed shells! It's light, filling, and flavorful. And it's a salad with bread in it, so you can't go wrong. -
We would also recommend simple sides like a salad with tomato and red onions, cottage cheese, or refried beans. After all, a side dish doesn't have to be complicated to be delicious!
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Jayayay
Feb 15, 2019
I LOVE this recipe! And more importantly, so do my kids! So brilliant to create a Mexican-Italian fusion that combines all the most delectable elements of each cuisine. This will be our Friday night go-to for weeks to come!
Princess Carolyn
Feb 15, 2019
These look so good! I love pasta recipes that are super gooey and indulgent.
EditorLP
Feb 15, 2019
This is such a fun twist on pasta night or tacos! The recipe seems super easy, and would be great to make on a weeknight and take leftover for lunch at work the next day.
Janice L
Jan 31, 2019
Pasta is always popular with families so everyone should enjoy eating this. To switch things up a bit, instead of the Italian seasonings used in traditional pasta dishes, this recipe offers the delicious flavors of Mexican food. When making this, I would use lean ground beef, lite cream cheese, mild salsa, reduced fat cheddar cheese, and part skim mozzarella cheese.
Ruthep
Feb 23, 2018
Yummy! This is a great meal. It keeps well for leftovers. There are just two of us living here now. Great to take to work for lunch! As far as cheeses at the end, I went with Monterey jack instead of mozzarella. It just seems more of a Mexican melting cheese. I think prep time is more than 25 minutes so give yourself extra time making it.
Edmund K
Mar 29, 2017
I've made the Italian version of stuffed shells before and really enjoyed them. I love Mexican food and I can't wait to give this recipe a try. When I've made the Italian version, I used the traditional ricotta cheese, but using cream cheese is something I'd like to try. Does anyone have any suggestions for minimizing the number of shells that might split during the cooking process? I always cook extra, but I'd like to keep the breakage to a minimum.
msdeb21
Feb 25, 2017
I haven't made stuffed shells in a long time, and I've never made them with a Mexican twist. I can't wait to try these. We love pasta and Mexican food.
FoodLover
Feb 25, 2017
I can imagine this pasta dish being delicious. The stuffing is akin to lasagne but this has a twist combining cream cheese with the ground beef instead of making a cheese sauce. The enchilada sauce would add some nice heat and spiciness. I like my food spicy. I'm looking forward to trying out this recipe!
kmcartoonity 62072 74
Feb 25, 2017
I made these for my family last week, since I happened l of the ingredients on hand, and they were a big hit! I love the Italian version, which tastes similar to a lasagna, but my husband doesn't like them at all. Something about the sweetness and texture of the ricotta cheese doesn't appeal to him. He really likes Mexican food though, especially if it is smothered in good enchilada sauce and cheesse! Thanks for this recipe idea, I am sure we are going to be making it quite often!
Lynn K
Jan 15, 2017
Baked pasta dishes are always a huge hit with my family and I know theyre really going to love this delicious sounding Mexican inspired version. What Id like to know is if anyone has perhaps tried substituting the meat for a vegetarian version? . Im wondering if beans would work or perhaps you have other suggestions? Were not strictly vegetarian but tastes in my family tend to lean towards meatless meals so Im always on the look out for interesting and tasty ideas.
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