Taco Stuffed Shells

5 from 2 votes

Taco stuffed shells are a delicious and easy dinner recipe. They're made with jumbo pasta shells that are filled with a flavorful taco meat mixture and then topped with cheese and baked until bubbly and melted.

Prep Time25

Cook Time25

Total Time50

Course: Main Dishes, Pasta

Cuisine: American, Cinco de Mayo, Mexican

Servings:

Calories: 531kcal

Author: Kelly Bloom

Equipment

Ingredients

2 lb lean ground beef
14 oz canned diced tomatoes do not drain
2 packets taco seasoning mix
2 cups Mexican blend cheese shredded
1 lb pasta shells jumbo, or about 30 shells
1 cup taco sauce or jarred salsa
1 cup Doritos crushed, or use corn tortillas
¼ cup cilantro fresh, chopped
1 tomato diced

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Prepare the jumbo shells according to the package directions. Set aside in a bowl.
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Prepare a 9 x 13 baking dish with some non stick cooking spray. Spread ⅓ of the taco sauce in the bottom of the baking dish.
Brown the ground beef in a 12" skillet over medium high heat, crumbling as it cooks. Drain well and return to the skillet.
2 lb lean ground beef
Stir in the diced tomatoes and the taco seasoning mix and half the shredded cheese. Mix well to combine.
14 oz canned diced tomatoes, 2 packets taco seasoning mix, 2 cups Mexican blend cheese
Using a cookie scoop, fill each cooked pasta shell with about ¼ cup of the meat mixture.
1 lb pasta shells
As you stuff the shells, arrange them in the baking dish. Drizzle remaining taco sauce over the prepared shells.
1 cup taco sauce
Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of the casserole and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and the edges are bubbling.
Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes before serving, casserole 'sets up'. Garnish with diced fresh tomatoes, fresh chopped cilantro or green onion, and crushed Doritos or corn tortilla chips before serving.
1 cup Doritos, ¼ cup cilantro, 1 tomato

Notes

Use a good quality taco seasoning mix. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your taco stuffed shells.
Don't overcook the ground beef. You want it to be browned but not dry.
If you don't have refried beans, you can use black beans or pinto beans instead.
Feel free to add your favorite taco toppings to your taco stuffed shells. Some popular toppings include sour cream, salsa, guacamole, and shredded cheese.