Taco Stuffed Shells are a magnificent blend of Mexican and Italian food. Jumbo pasta shells are stuffed with taco-seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, salsa, and cheese.
They’re easy to prepare, fun to eat, and perfect for busy weeknights when you want something a little different from the usual tacos. Even better, you can assemble them ahead of time and pop them in the oven when you are ready for dinner. Serve them with a side salad and you have a full meal.
Serve these cheesy stuffed shells with your favorite taco toppings and you’ve got a family-friendly meal everyone will love! As an added bonus , they are budget-friendly. One pound of ground beef stretches to feed six people.
How To Make Taco Stuffed Shells
(More detailed instructions and video in recipe card below.)
- Cook the shells to al dente. They will soften further in the oven so avoid overcooking them.
- Make the filling. Brown the ground beef with the onion and the pepper. Add taco seasoning, black beans, corn ,salsa, and 1 cup of cheese.
- Fill the shells. Stuff the shells with filling and place in a baking dish.
- Sprinkle with cheese and green onions.
- Bake covered for 15 minutes and uncovered for 5 minutes.
- Serve.
How To Make Taco Stuffed Shells Spicy
Use spicy taco seasoning and serve with Cholulu Hot Sauce– my favorite hot sauce for Mexican food.
Recipe Tips
- Be sure to buy Jumbo pasta shells.
- Only cook the shells to al dente. They will cook more in the oven.
- Cook a few extra shells Some shells may tear during boiling.
Variations and Substitutions
- Ground turkey can be substituted for ground beef.
- Green pepper can be used instead of red.
- If you want to add more veggies, try adding diced zucchini.
- Make it bean-free. Leave the beans out and replace with extra corn or ground beef.
Make Ahead
These stuffed shells are perfect for meal prep. Prepare the filling, cook the shells, stuff them and arrange them in the baking dish. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Add cheese just before baking. Keep in mind that you may need extra baking time. Make sure the center is heated before serving.
Storage and Freezing
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days.
Can be frozen. Place them in a foil baking pan. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and freeze before baking. Place them in the refrigerator the night before you want to cook them.
More Taco-Inspired Dinners
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Taco Stuffed Shells
Ingredients
- 1/2 box jumbo pasta shells, cooked and drained
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 medium yellow or sweet onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 (1-ounce) packet taco seasoning
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 1/2 cups frozen or fresh corn, cooked
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided
- 1/4 cup sliced green onion
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Place a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon.Add onion and bell pepper and continue to cook until the ground beef has no more pink.
- Add the taco seasoning and cook 1 more minute. Remove from heat and stir in the black beans, corn, salsa, and 1 cup of cheese.
- Fill each shell with filling and place in prepared pan. Sprinkle the remaining cheese and the green onions on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake another 5 minutes.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally published July 29, 2020.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
I would spray pan then add bottle of sausa bottom of pan then put little sausa in every shell over mixture Danny
I like this idea. This is the way I will make mine. I want to make it for a Halloween party. Any idea, anyone?
Delicious recipe!!! Made it 3 times already!