Description
A rich, comforting dish featuring jumbo pasta shells stuffed with spiced chicken and cheese, baked in a creamy Cajun sauce. Perfect for family dinners or entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
Main:
- 20 jumbo pasta shells
- 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 onion (finely chopped)
- 1 red bell pepper (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Sauce:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta shells until al dente. Rinse and set aside.
- Sauté onion and pepper in olive oil; add garlic and seasonings. Mix in chicken and let cool.
- Stir in ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan to form filling.
- Make sauce: melt butter, add flour, whisk in milk/cream until thickened. Season.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Pour half the sauce in a greased baking dish.
- Stuff shells with filling and place in dish. Pour remaining sauce on top.
- Cover with foil; bake 25 minutes. Remove foil, bake another 10–15 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
-
Use rotisserie chicken for ease.
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Adjust Cajun seasoning for spice level.
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Can be made gluten-free with substitutions.
-
Add sautéed spinach or mushrooms for extra veggies.
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Freezes well before or after baking.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: 520