Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Pasta with Cream Sauce
A recipe for pasta shells stuffed with seasoned chicken and cheese, baked in a rich, creamy white sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Total Time: 55 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 jumbo pasta shells
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Cook the jumbo pasta shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking.
- In a medium bowl, combine the shredded chicken, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix well to form the filling.
- Carefully stuff each cooked pasta shell with the chicken and cheese mixture. Arrange the stuffed shells in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Prepare the cream sauce: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for one minute, stirring constantly.
- Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Remove the sauce from the heat. Stir in the garlic powder and nutmeg.
- Pour the cream sauce evenly over the stuffed shells in the baking dish.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top of the sauce.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly golden brown.
Notes
- You can use rotisserie chicken for faster preparation.
- If the sauce thickens too much while cooking, add a splash of milk to thin it slightly.
- For extra flavor, add 1/4 cup of cream cheese to the sauce while it simmers.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 shells
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 16
- Unsaturated Fat: 14
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 110