Creamy Chicken Stuffed Shells Recipe: A Delicious Italian Dish Everyone Will Love
Are you looking for a dish that is creamy, rich in flavor, and perfect for your weekly family meals? Look no further, because there’s nothing more satisfying than a classic Italian dish like Creamy Chicken Stuffed Shells. This dish is perfect for a quiet night in, a family gathering, or special occasions. It is exquisite, flavorful, and easy to make.
Ingredients for Creamy Chicken Stuffed Shells
To make this lovely dish, you will need the following items:
- 14-16 jumbo pasta shells
- 1 lb. ground chicken breast
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp. butter
- 4 oz. cream cheese
- 14 oz. can diced tomatoes
- 1 tbsp. dried basil
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. salt
Step-by-Step Directions for Creamy Chicken Stuffed Shells
Step 1: Boil the pasta shells
Preheat your oven to about 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a large pot of salted boiling water over high heat. Add the pasta shells, and cook for about eight minutes, or until they are tender but not overcooked. Drain them and set them aside.
Step 2: Cook the chicken and onions
Take a large skillet, add 1 tablespoon of butter, and heat up over medium heat. Add the diced onion, minced garlic, and ground chicken to the skillet. Cook it for about 10 minutes, breaking it up with a spatula until the chicken is no longer pink.
Step 3: Add the seasonings and cream cheese
Once the chicken is cooked, add 4 ounces of cream cheese to the skillet. Stir it continuously until it melts and coats the chicken. Add the salt, black pepper, diced tomatoes, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, and 1 tablespoon of dried basil. Mix everything well and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Step 4: Stuff the Shells
Once the filling is done, take a baking dish, and spread 1/2 cup of tomato sauce on the bottom. Take a single jumbo shell and fill it with the chicken and cheese mixture. Repeat this process until you have used all the shells. Place the shells in the baking dish.
Step 5: Top the Shells with Cheese and Bake
Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the stuffed shells in the baking dish. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese and a little bit more grated parmesan cheese on top of the shells. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, take off the foil and bake for an additional ten minutes, or until the cheese becomes bubbly and golden brown.
Variation of Creamy Chicken Stuffed Shells
There are different variations of this dish that you can try. One of them is to replace the chicken breast with ground beef, turkey, or sausage. You can also add spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, or mushrooms to the filling. Moreover, substitute the marinara sauce with pesto sauce or Alfredo sauce to switch things up.
Serving Suggestions for Creamy Chicken Stuffed Shells
You can serve this dish as a side or a main course. However, it’s excellent with some freshly baked garlic bread, a green salad, or roasted vegetables. If you’re on a low-carb diet, you can skip the pasta shells and serve the chicken cheese filling as a casserole, topped with some mozzarella cheese.
The Bottom Line
There’s no denying that Creamy Chicken Stuffed Shells are a family favorite that is easy to make and bursting with Italian flavors. With its creamy filling stuffed inside the jumbo pasta shells and topped with cheese, you’ll receive an explosion of flavors in every bite. So, next time you want to impress your family or friends, or you crave a good comfort meal, keep this recipe close by, and you’ll be glad you did.