Taco Stuffed Shells are a brilliant and delicious twist on two beloved comfort food classics—tacos and pasta. By combining spicy taco-seasoned ground beef with tender jumbo pasta shells, then baking everything with gooey melted cheese and salsa, you get a dish that’s bold, hearty, and incredibly satisfying. It’s the kind of meal that will have your family asking for seconds and your friends begging for the recipe.
To begin, gather your ingredients: 12 ounces of jumbo pasta shells, 1 pound of ground beef, 1 packet of taco seasoning, 2/3 cup of water, 1 ½ cups of jarred salsa (divided), and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese (also divided).
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). While the oven is warming, cook the jumbo pasta shells according to the package directions until al dente. Drain them well and set aside to cool slightly—this makes them easier to handle when stuffing later.
In the same pot or a large skillet, add the ground beef and cook over medium heat, breaking it up as it browns. Once fully cooked, drain off the excess fat to avoid a greasy filling. Add the taco seasoning and 2/3 cup of water to the beef. Stir well and let it simmer until the water evaporates and the beef is coated with flavorful seasoning.
Next, stir in 1 cup of salsa and ¾ cup of shredded cheddar cheese into the seasoned beef. This creates a savory, cheesy taco filling that’s perfect for stuffing into the pasta shells.
Take each cooked shell and fill it with a spoonful of the taco mixture, then arrange the stuffed shells in a baking dish. Once all the shells are filled and placed in the dish, top them with the remaining ½ cup of salsa and sprinkle over the remaining ¼ cup of cheddar cheese.
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes. The cheese will melt beautifully, and the salsa will help keep everything moist and flavorful. After baking, you can uncover the dish and broil for an additional 2–3 minutes if you want a golden, bubbly cheese topping.
Serve the taco stuffed shells hot, garnished with fresh toppings like chopped cilantro, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, or diced tomatoes for added freshness and crunch. This dish pairs well with a simple green salad, corn on the cob, or even Spanish rice.
What makes Taco Stuffed Shells so appealing—besides how delicious they are—is how easy they are to prepare and customize. You can swap out the beef for ground turkey or shredded chicken, use a different kind of cheese, or add black beans and corn to the filling for extra texture and flavor.
Perfect for weeknight dinners, potlucks, or feeding a crowd, Taco Stuffed Shells are a guaranteed hit. It’s a comforting, flavorful, and creative dish that brings the best of both Mexican and Italian cooking to your table.
