Taco Stuffed Shells

Combine two classic flavors, tacos and pasta, for a cheesy dinner that the entire family will love. Seasoned ground beef, combined with pasta shells and your favorite Tex-Mex toppings, will turn an ordinary dinner into a fun, delicious make-ahead win for those busy weekday nights.

Stuffed shells are one of my favorite meals. In fact, my family always makes them for Christmas dinner. Different, I know. This taco stuffed shells recipe is a great way to change up a traditional recipe into something new and exciting.

We love taking traditional recipes and combining flavors in new and different ways. It’s one of the ways our freezer meals stand out from everyone else’s. Inside our Freezer Meals 101 Club, you’ll get access to all these recipes along with our 20 years of experience making and eating freezer meals. No freezer-burned or bland meals here. Join us inside the club today!

Taco Stuffed Shells Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. lean ground beef, cooked and cooled
• ½ onion minced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 14 oz. diced tomatoes
• ½ cup kernel corn
• 3 Tbsp. taco seasoning
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 24 jumbo pasta shells
• 1 ½ cup salsa

For Day of Cooking

• 1 ½ cups Tex-Mex or cheddar cheese, shredded

Assembly Instructions:

1. Cook pasta shells one minute under package directions.
2. Drain and rinse carefully in cold water.
3. In a bowl, mix the ground beef, onion, red pepper, tomatoes, corn, taco seasoning, and cream cheese.
4. Fill each pasta shell with the ground beef mixture and place into a 9×13 casserole dish or foil pan.
5. Top with salsa.
6. Cover with plastic wrap and foil.
7. Freeze.

Cooking Instructions:

1. Thaw.
2. Remove plastic wrap and replace foil.
3. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.
4. Uncover.
5. Top with 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese and bake for another 10-15 minutes.

Store any leftovers in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Recipe Adaptations

You can make this recipe vegetarian by substituting the ground beef for any plant-based ground beef option and browning it according to the directions. Cool and then combine it in the recipe as directed above.

What to Serve With This Dish

There are so many options to serve with this dish to make it a complete meal. You can go an Italian route, a Tex-Mex route, or both! Here are some ideas to get you started.

Italian-Inspired: serve with breadsticks, cheesy bread, a Caesar salad, a garden salad, or some roasted vegetables.

Tex-Mex Inspired: serve with cilantro-lime rice, black or refried beans, Mexican street corn (elote-style), chips and salsa, shredded lettuce salad with salsa and ranch dressing, or fresh Pico de Gallo on top.

For more recipes like this one, check out our Beef Taco Skillet, Big Mac Salad, or Spicy Arrabbiata Sauce.