Name: Mexican Stuffed Shells with Veal
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 Servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb Ground veal; 0.5 cup onion; 0.5 cup poblano pepper; 1.25 ounces Taco Seasoning; 0.5 cup Water; 4 ounces Cream cheese; 2 cups Colby Jack cheese; 20 pasta shells; 1.5 cups Salsa; 1 cup Taco sauce

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Mexican Stuffed Shells with Veal

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Ingredients

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Instructions

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350℉.

Add the ground veal, diced onion and diced pepper to a large skillet; Cook over medium high heat until meat is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.

Stir in taco seasoning and water; Stir to combine.

Break chunks of the cream cheese and add them to the skillet; Simmer for 3-4 minutes, or until the cream cheese melts into the veal mixture.

Remove from the heat and add ½ cup of Colby Jack cheese; Stir to combine.

While the veal is cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta shells.

Cook according to the package directions and drain.

Immediately separate the shells on plate so they don’t stick together.

Pour the salsa into a 13×9 baking dish and spread to cover the bottom.

Fill each pasta shell with 1-2 tablespoons of the veal mixture and place them in the baking dish.

Top the stuffed shells with taco sauce and sprinkle the remaining 1 ½ cups of Colby Jack cheese on top.

Bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the shells are heated through.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Roast Poblanos First 🌶️
Char poblano peppers directly over a flame or under the broiler, then steam in a sealed bag for 5 minutes before peeling—this removes the skin easily and intensifies their smoky flavor.
Brown Veal Thoroughly 🥩
Ensure ground veal is fully browned in batches without crowding the pan; this develops deep flavor through the Maillard reaction rather than steaming the meat.
Balance Cheese Ratios ⚖️
Mix cream cheese and Colby Jack in a 1:2 ratio to prevent the filling from becoming too heavy while maintaining creamy richness and melting quality.
Partially Cook Shells 🐚
Cook pasta shells to just under al dente (2 minutes less than package directions) so they finish cooking perfectly during baking without becoming mushy.
Layer Sauces Strategically 🍲
Place taco sauce on the baking dish bottom, filled shells in the middle, and salsa on top for optimal moisture distribution and to prevent the filling from drying out.