Marshall wasn't so sure about the combination of Mexican flavors with pasta, but he thought they were surprisingly good. A pan of these lasts us a couple meals, so we got to confirm that we liked them over the course of a few days, and the answer was yes every time. This recipe is a keeper!
Mexican Stuffed Shells
Ingredients:
6 oz. jumbo shells (18-20)
1 lb. ground beef
Taco seasoning (recipe below for the homemade mix I use)
1 cup sour cream
2 cups salsa
8 oz. cheddar cheese, grated, divided in half
Optional toppings: black olives, green onions, tomatoes, avocado, corn, or anything else you come up with!
Taco Seasoning:
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Mix everything together well. This will be enough for 1 lb. of beef. If you want to make a large batch of this to have on hand, you will need two tablespoons for each lb. of beef.
Directions:
Cook shells until al dente. Drain and set aside on a kitchen towel for them to cool and dry.
Meanwhile prepare your taco meat. First, brown your meat in a large skillet. Once browned and almost cooked through, drain the fat, add the taco seasoning and 1/2 cup of water, and simmer over low heat until the water is mostly evaporated and the seasoning is mixed in well (about 5 minutes). Place in a mixing bowl. Let cool for 5-10 minutes.
Add the sour cream, 1/2 cup of salsa, and half of the grated cheddar cheese to the mixing bowl with the taco meat. Mix well.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spread 1/2 cup of salsa evenly in the bottom of a 9x13 pan to lightly coat it. Take one shell at a time and fill it with 1-2 tablespoons of the filling. Place in the pan and repeat until all of the shells are stuffed. Top evenly with the final 1 cup of salsa, and bake in the oven until heated through and salsa is bubbling, 15-20 minutes. Top with the final half of the cheddar cheese and bake an additional 5 minutes to melt the cheese. Serve with any toppings you would like.
