Taco Filled Pasta Shells

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1/8 cup taco seasoning mix
• 1 (8 ounce) package fat free cream cheese, softened
• 24 uncooked jumbo pasta shells
• 1 cup salsa (optional)
• 1 cup taco sauce
• 1 cup kraft fat-free cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 1/2 cups baked corn tortilla chips, crushed (or about 15-20 chips)

Recipe

• 1 in a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. add taco seasoning and prepare according to directions add cream cheese; cover and simmer for 5-10 minutes or until melted, stirring occasionally.
• 2 transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour. cook pasta according to directions.
• 3 drain and toss with butter (a couple of teaspoons to keep the shells from sticking). fill each shell with about 3 tablespoons of meat mixture.
• 4 place 12 shells in a greased 9" square pan; cover and freeze for up to 3 months. to prepare unfrozen shells: spoon salsa into a greased 9" square pan.
• 5 top with shells and taco sauce.
• 6 cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• 7 uncover and sprinkle with cheese and chips; bake 15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
• 8 serve with sour cream and onions.
• 9 to prepare frozen shells: thaw for 24 hours and cook as above.