Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

chicken taco stuffed pasta shells

(3 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Monica Price
Fort Jennings, OH

This is a family favorite! I have 7 (somewhat) picky eaters and this recipe pleases them all!

Blue Ribbon Recipe

An easy meal your family will love. It's a taco twist on stuffed shells. Pasta shells are stuffed with a creamy chicken mixture that's full of taco flavor. The combination of ranch and taco seasoning is fabulous and makes the dish. Stuffing the shells takes some time, but it comes together quickly. Pro-tip, use a piping bag or Ziploc bag with the corner cut off to fill the shells.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(3 ratings)
yield 8
prep time 30 Min
cook time 10 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For chicken taco stuffed pasta shells

  • 4
    chicken breasts
  • 1 c
    water
  • 1 pkg
    Hidden Valley ranch dressing mix
  • 1 pkg
    taco seasoning mix
  • 8 oz
    cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 box
    jumbo pasta shells
  • 2 Tbsp
    butter, room temperature
  • 1/4 c
    taco sauce plus more for drizzling
  • 3 c
    shredded Mexican cheese, or your favorite
  • 1/3 pkg
    tortilla chips, crushed
  • toppings such as: shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, sliced green onions, guacomole, sour cream, salsa, taco sauce

How To Make chicken taco stuffed pasta shells

  • Chopped cooked chicken breasts with water and seasoning packets added.
    1
    Boil chicken breasts until tender. Chop and place in skillet/pan. Mix together both seasoning packets with water; pour over chicken and toss.
  • Cream cheese added to the chicken.
    2
    Add cream cheese and cook on medium heat.
  • Cream cheese melted into the mixture.
    3
    When the cream cheese has melted, set aside.
  • Pasta shells cooked and drained.
    4
    Boil pasta shells according to package directions; drain and toss with butter.
  • Taco sauce in the bottom of a baking dish.
    5
    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Thinly coat the bottom of a 9x13” baking pan with 1/4 cup taco sauce.
  • Shells stuffed with chicken mixture and placed in baking dish.
    6
    Stuff each shell with meat filling, careful not to overfill (about 2 tablespoonfuls). Place each shell on top of taco sauce in the pan, making sure they touch.
  • Taco sauce drizzled over the stuffed shells.
    7
    Drizzle more taco sauce over top of each filled shell.
  • Cheese sprinkled on top and baking until melted.
    8
    Top with 2 cups cheese. Bake until cheese is melted.
  • Crushed tortilla chips and additional cheese added.
    9
    Remove from oven. Crush tortilla chips to make about 1 cup (more if you like) and sprinkle over shells. Top with 1 cup of cheese. Bake again until the top layer of cheese is melted.
  • Chicken Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells on a plate with toppings.
    10
    Serve with your favorite taco toppings. A 9x13” pan will fit about 25 shells. You can substitute the chicken for 2 pounds of lean ground beef.
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