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Test Kitchen Approved

Easy Stuffed Taco Shells

Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

About

Easy Stuffed Taco Shells are meant to be exactly that... a breeze! Simply cook up the pasta shells, fill each one with cheesy, tangy, zesty, and succulent taco meat, and bake until the cheese on top is melted! Ta-da! A Taco Tuesday dinner that could easily become pasta night! It's all such a snap with Easy Stuffed Taco Shells, and thank goodness for that!

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Ingredients

  • For the shells:
  • 24 jumbo pasta shells
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound extra-lean ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) jar salsa
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 1/2 cups Mexican cheese blend, shredded, divided
  • salt, to taste
  • black pepper, to taste
  • Optional, for topping:
  • cilantro, to taste, chopped
  • avocado, to taste, sliced or diced
  • scallions, to taste, chopped
  • tomatoes, to taste, chopped
  • sour cream, to taste

Directions

Step 1 -In a large pot of salted, boiling water, add the pasta shells and cook them to al dente, according to the package directions.

Step 2 -In a skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil.

Step 3 -Add the onions to the hot oil and cook, while stirring, until they begin to lightly brown, about 4-5 minutes.

Step 4 -Add the garlic to the onions and cook, while stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Step 5 -Add the ground beef, the chili powder, the paprika, and the cumin to the onion mixture and cook, while crumbling the meat, until the beef is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.

Step 6 -Position an oven rack in the top third position.

Step 7 -Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Step 8 -Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Step 9 -Spread the salsa in an even layer on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.

Step 10 -Transfer the skillet from the heat.

Step 11 -Add the sour ceam and 1/2 of the Mexican cheese to the beef mixtue and stir to combine.

Step 12 -Season the beef mixture with the salt and the black pepper.

Step 13 -Rinse the pasta shell under cool water and drain them thoroughly.

Step 14 -Spoon an even amount of the beef mixture into each of the pasta shells.

Step 15 -Transfer the stuffed pasta shells to the prepared baking dish.

Step 16 -Top the shells evenly with the remaining cheese.

Step 17 -Bake, uncovered, until the cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.

Step 18 -Serve with your favorite toppings.

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