I hope you’ve tried my recipe for Homemade Pesto Sauce, because today you’re going to need it! One bite into these Pesto & Chicken Stuffed Shells and you’ll be begging for more. Trust me on this.
Making these Pesto & Chicken Stuffed Shells is actually easier than it looks. All it requires is cooking the pasta shells, mixing the remaining ingredients together, and spooning the mixture into the shells before baking. It really is that simple!
These stuffed shells not only taste amazing, but they’re really filling as well. Since it’s just my husband and me, I usually bake 6-8 shells at a time, depending on how many leftovers I want.
This recipe will actually make a full box of stuffed shells, which averages about 40 shells. This works out great for me, because these Pesto & Chicken Stuffed Shells are perfect for the freezer. I place the shells in a foil freezer container, top with additional shredded cheese, then label and stick in my freezer for cooking later. The only adjustment needed is to increase the temperature when cooking. I get to enjoy an amazing dinner later, with a lot less work!
I have served this dinner to guests before, and it’s always well received. I usually serve with a salad and bread. It is pictured here with Italian-style broccoli and pepperoni bread.
Just look at that cheesy goodness! It makes me want to run to my freezer and pull out a container of these and cook them right now! Are you ready to give these Pesto & Chicken Stuffed Shells a try? If so, check out the amazing recipe below.
Pesto & Chicken Stuffed Shells
Ingredients
- 2 cups of shredded chicken
- 1 box of jumbo shells pasta 1 pound box
- 1 pound of shredded Mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup of Pesto sauce
- 1/2 Teaspoon of Garlic Powder
- Extra shredded cheese for garnishment
Instructions
- Cook the jumbo shell pasta according to the instructions on the package. Let the pasta shells cool before handling.
- Melt the cream cheese in the microwave for 30 seconds. Add the shredded chicken, Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, Pesto sauce and garlic powder and mix well.
- Spoon the mixture into the jumbo shells and place in a baking dish. Top with additional shredded cheese.
- Cover with tin foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake until the cheese is bubbly, about 5 min.
Notes
This looks amazing! I’ll probably mix in the chicken with small pasta shells, but I love the idea of shredded chicken and pesto.
Stuffing the shells isn’t hard, but it’s not exceptionally fun, either. I love the idea of mixing it all together and baking it in the oven. Yumm…can’t wait until dinner!
This looks INCREDIBLE. I love pesto so much. I know that my entire family will love this. Pinning, sharing and all that good stuff!
Thanks, Sharon! Pesto is awesome! 🙂
These sound delicious Christie! I love pesto and like the idea of doing it with stuffed shells. I’d love if you come share this, and any of your other posts at What’d You Do This Weekend? The party is in process now at http://joylovefood.com/whatd-weekend-2/ 🙂
Sounds great, Joy. I’ll see you there!
Thanks for sharing at What’d You Do This Weekend? Christie! I hope you will join us again this Monday morning 🙂
Thanks, Joy. I’ll see you at the party!
These stuffed shells looks so easy and YUMMY! I love that they can be frozen for later use. Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty 🙂 Hope to see you again next week.
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Thanks, Lorelai. There’s no place I’d rather be! Have a blessed weekend!
Yum! I love, love, love this! Thanks for linking this up this week at Merry Monday’s!
Thanks! I appreciate you hosting!
These look delicious! And I love pesto – can’t get enough of it! Thank you for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board.
Thanks so much! Yes, pesto is my new favorite. 🙂
What a great recipe! Love it! Pinned and tweeted. We love to party with you, so I hope to see you tonight at 7 pm. That would be so awesome.
Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
Congratulations! This post is featured over at Diana Rambles today and has been pinned in the Featured at Diana Rambles board at Pinterest, Tweeted, and Recommended on G+. Please grab a featured button off my button page or via the post guidelines graphic. Thanks for sharing this awesome idea!
Awesome! Thanks Diana! I can’t wait to check it out! 🙂
These look amazing. I never thought about making shells with pesto. Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday. Hope to see you again this week.
Thanks so much!