Description
Tender jumbo pasta shells filled with a creamy, cheesy Cajun chicken mixture baked in a rich, seasoned sauce. Smoked spices blend with ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan for bold, comforting flavor.
Ingredients
Pasta and Filling
20 jumbo pasta shells
2 cups cooked shredded chicken
1 tbsp olive oil
½ onion, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp Cajun seasoning
½ tsp paprika
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (plus extra for topping)
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Creamy Sauce
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
½ cup heavy cream
1 tsp Cajun seasoning
¼ tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
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Cook pasta: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Boil pasta shells in salted water for 8–10 minutes until al dente. Drain and spread on a tray to cool.
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Prepare filling: In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onion and bell pepper for 5 minutes until softened. Add garlic, Cajun seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir in chicken, mix well, and remove from heat. Cool slightly.
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Mix filling: In a bowl, combine the cooled chicken mixture with ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan until evenly blended.
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Make sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk for 1 minute to form a roux. Gradually whisk in milk and cream until smooth. Add Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5–7 minutes until thickened.
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Assemble: Spread half the sauce in a 9×13‑inch baking dish. Stuff each cooled pasta shell with 1–2 tbsp filling and arrange open‑side up. Pour remaining sauce on top, then sprinkle with extra mozzarella.
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Bake: Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 more minutes until top is bubbly and lightly golden.
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Serve: Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
Cook pasta al dente for best texture.
Avoid overfilling shells to prevent breaking.
Cool filling before stuffing to prevent premature melting.
Simmer sauce gently for smooth consistency.
Extra cheese on top adds gooey, golden finish.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish, Pasta
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Cajun-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 recipe
- Calories: 495
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 610 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg
Keywords: spicy cajun stuffed shells, chicken stuffed pasta bake, creamy cajun pasta recipe, mozzarella stuffed shells, cajun comfort food