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Scrumptious 25-Minute Chicken Pesto Stuffed Shells

Chicken Pesto Stuffed Shells
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Bake jumbo pasta shells stuffed with a creamy mixture of ricotta, shredded chicken, and bright pesto. This Italian-inspired dish is easy to assemble and perfect for feeding a crowd.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box jumbo pasta shells
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese, whole milk
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
  • 1/2 cup prepared basil pesto
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the jumbo shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain the shells and rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, pesto, beaten egg, pepper, and salt. Mix until well combined.
  4. Gently fold the shredded chicken into the cheese and pesto mixture.
  5. Spread about 1 cup of marinara sauce evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  6. Carefully stuff each cooked shell with the chicken and cheese filling. Arrange the filled shells in a single layer in the baking dish over the sauce.
  7. Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the top of the stuffed shells.
  8. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce. Top with a little extra Parmesan cheese, if desired.
  9. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and starting to brown lightly.
  10. Let the shells rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy this comforting meal!

Notes

  • You can use rotisserie chicken to save time on cooking the chicken.
  • If your pesto is very thick, you may add one tablespoon of water to make it easier to mix.
  • This dish reheats beautifully in the microwave or covered in the oven.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://flavorvista.com/chicken-pesto-stuffed-shells-recipe/