Taco Stuffed Shells

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Jumbo pasta shells are stuffed with a mixture of taco meat, salsa, diced tomatoes, and cheese in this easy Taco Stuffed Shells recipe. A fun alternative to Taco Tuesday and great for busy weeknights!

Prep Time10

Cook Time45

Total Time55

Course: dinner

Cuisine: Tex Mex

Keyword: stuffed shells, taco stuffed shells

Servings: people

Ingredients

24 jumbo pasta shells
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef
1 small onion , diced
2 cloves garlic minced
3 tablespoons taco seasoning
salt and pepper , to taste
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth (or water)
2 cups salsa , divided
15 ounce can petite diced tomatoes , drained
2 cups freshly shredded Mexican cheese blend , divided
1 scallion , diced
For serving: cilantro, avocado, scallions, tomatoes, sour cream, etc. optional, to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9x13 inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the jumbo shells al dente according to package directions. Drain well and rinse under cold water.
In the meantime, add the olive oil to a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Swirl to coat, then add in the beef and onion. Cook, breaking up the beef up into tiny crumbles until browned and no pink remains, and the onion has softened. Add in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Drain off most of the grease.
Stir in the taco seasoning, a bit of salt and pepper, and chicken broth, followed by the diced tomatoes and 1 cup of the salsa. Allow to simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 cup of the cheese.
Using a spoon, fill the cooked shells with the beef mixture.
Spread the remaining 1 cup salsa in the bottom of the prepared dish and place the stuffed shells on top in a single layer. Top with the remaining 1 cup cheese.
Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake another 10 minutes. (You can also place under the broiler for a couple minutes to brown the cheese a bit.)
Sprinkle with the diced scallion and serve with your choice of suggested toppings.

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