Chicken & Stuffing STUFFED SHELLS, Easy & Quick Meal Idea
- Flavia Pinto
- Last Updated on March 17, 2024
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
You only need a few ingredients to make these creamy chicken stuffed shells. You may already have everything on hand to make this easy dinner recipe. We know that once you do make stuffing stuffed shells (chicken included) just once, you will always have stuffing mix and cream of chicken soup in your pantry just so you will be ready to make this amazing recipe anytime!
Chicken Stuffing Shells Recipe
So what exactly are chicken stuffed shells? Well, they are very similar to classic Italian stuffed shells but with a modern twist. Jumbo pasta shells are filled with a blend of stuffing mix and shredded chicken. The shells are covered in a creamy chicken soup sauce and then baked to perfection. The soup mixture soaks into the shells, making them tender and soft. The whole dish ends with shredded mozzarella cheese melted on top. It is just so delicious!
These shells stuffed with chicken and stuffing are a perfect weeknight meal. They are easy to make even for a beginner chef. However, our shells stuffed with chicken and stuffing recipe taste like they were made by a five-star restaurant. They are just so flavorful! This is one new dinner recipe that you have to try.
Ingredients for Chicken Stuffed Shells
Here is a quick look at the ingredients you will need to make this chicken shells recipe. The exact quantities are listed in the recipe below but this will give you a good idea of what you will need to make this perfect recipe.
- Jumbo pasta shells
- Cooked shredded chicken – Plain, cooked chicken is best for this recipe. You can make your own cooked chicken breasts and shred them with a fork. You can also make rotisserie chicken stuffed shells by shredding a rotisserie chicken which is an even easier, and faster option!
- Stuffing mix – Chicken-flavored stuffing is best as it compliments the rest of the chicken in the recipe.
- Butter – Use unsalted butter rather than salted which can make the mix a little too salty.
- Cream of chicken soup – Cream of chicken soup has such an incredible taste and texture that is essentially a sauce all on its own.
- Whole milk – Whole milk is best to give the sauce a creamy texture and a rich taste.
- Chicken broth – Use low-sodium chicken broth that still has plenty of flavor but with a little less salt.
- Salt and Pepper – A little salt and pepper can add a whole lot of flavor.
- Shredded mozzarella – Whole milk mozzarella is always the best. Grate your own cheese or buy pre-shredded cheese. Both will work!
- Parsley – Freshly chopped parsley makes a great garnish for this tasty dish.
Variations
While this recipe for chicken stuffed shells with stuffing is super yummy, here are a few ingredient substitutions and variations you may want to try.
- Replace the mozzarella with shredded cheddar cheese.
- Use herb seasoned or turkey flavored stuffing mix in place of chicken flavored stuffing.
- Stove Top stuffing is our favorite stuffing brand but any kind will work.
- Use skim milk in place of whole milk to cut back on the fat a little bit.
- Replace chicken breast with chopped rotisserie chicken. Using rotisserie chicken is much easier than cooking chicken breasts on your own!
How to Make Stuffed Shells with Chicken and Stuffing
Take a quick look at how to put this recipe together. The recipe card below has even more details for you, too!
- Prepare: Preheat the oven to 375 and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non stick cooking spray. Set the baking dish aside.
- Cook the shells: Cook the jumbo shells according to the package directions until they are al dente. Drain the shells and spread them on a clean baking sheet to dry.
- Make the filling: Boil the water and butter in a medium pot. Stir in the boxed stuffing mix and the shredded chicken. Remove the chicken mixture from the stove and let cool.
- Stuff the shells: Scoop the stuffing mixture into the cooked pasta shells. Place each stuffed shell into the prepared baking dish.
- Make the sauce: Whisk the two cans cream of chicken soup, milk, chicken broth, salt, and pepper together in a medium bowl. Pour the creamy sauce over the stuffed chicken shells in the baking dish.
- Bake: Bake the stuffed shells in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. If the shells start to look too dry, cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil. Remove the tray, sprinkle with the shredded cheese then bake for 10 more minutes.
- Enjoy!: Serve the cooked pasta shells with stuffing and chicken while warm!
How to Store Stuffing Stuffed Shells
If you have leftover shells, wrap the whole casserole dish in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for 4-5 days. Reheat the easy dinner in the microwave or pop it back into the oven to warm. You can also freeze chicken stuffed shells for up to three months. Freeze the dish before baking. When you are ready to enjoy this easy freezer meal, unwrap the baking dish and bake as directed! This is such a great way to have a filling meal on hand for busy days.
Shells Stuffed with Chicken and Stuffing
Ingredients
- 16 Jumbo pasta shells
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 2 boxes (6 ounces each) Stuffing mix, chicken flavor
- 3 cups water
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 cans (10.5 ounces each ) cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Cook the pasta shells to al dente according to package directions. Drain the cooked shells, spread them on a baking sheet, and set aside.
- Bring the 3 cups of water to a boil and add the butter. stir to melt the butter.
- Add the stuffing mix to the hot water and stir well. Stir in the shredded chicken and remove the pot from the heat.
- Scoop the stuffing and chicken mix into the cooked shells, filling each shell as much as possible then placing it into the prepared baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the cream of chicken soup, whole milk, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Pour this mixture over the tray of stuffed shells.
- Bake the shells for 25 minutes. Remove the tray and sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the top of the shells. Return the tray to the oven to bake for another 10 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Serve the chicken stuffing shells while warm!
Disclaimer: Please be aware that the food images displayed on this website are for illustrative purposes only. They do not represent the actual dishes or presentations you might achieve when following our recipes. While we strive to inspire your culinary journey, the appearance of your dishes may vary.
Frequent Asked Questions
How to Freeze Cooked Stuffed Shells?
Assemble the jumbo shells, stuffing them with the chicken mixture and covering them with the soup mixture. Then, wrap the entire casserole dish in plastic wrap and freeze. The shells will keep in the freezer for up to three months. When you are ready to enjoy this filling meal, uncover the dish and bake as directed in the recipe. The whole family will be happy that you have this easy dinner on hand!
What ingredients do you need to make chicken stuffed shells?
To make chicken stuffing shells, you will need jumbo pasta shells, cooked chicken, stove-top stuffing mix in chicken flavor, water, butter, cream of chicken soup, milk, chicken broth, salt, pepper, and shredded cheese. All of the ingredients with quantities are listed below!
Is conchiglioni same as stuffed shells?
Yes! Conchiglioni and stuffed shells are the same. When it Italy, you would call this dish conchiglioni. In the United States, they are called stuffed shells!
How long do you boil dried pasta shells?
Dry jumbo pasta shells should boil for about 10 minutes. Check the package directions to be sure as every brand will cook slightly differently.
