Creamy Chipotle Shells

Creamy Chipotle Shells

These Creamy Chipotle Shells deliver comfort food in a delicious and easy family friendly recipe. Comforting creamy shells, and fresh corn and basil bring a delicious pairing for a satisfying dinner.

A few tips for cooking these creamy chipotle shells

  • When boiling the shells, make sure to pull them when they are slightly under cooked
  • After the shells are cooked, drain them and transition them to a sheet . Drizzle with some olive oil to prevent them from sticking together while they wait to be stuffed
  • adobo peppers can be very hot, be cautious here – or use more if you love the spice!
  • Don’t forget to grease the casserole dish, this makes clean up much easier later

These delicious shells are perfect for a family dinner, and also served as leftovers for lunch! If you make these on a Sunday, they are perfect as leftovers throughout the week. If you are looking for a different shells recipe, check out our stuffed Italian shells or our tex mex stuffed shells!

This recipe comes from our friends at Homemade, check out the recorded cooking class if you want to learn more about this delicious recipe.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound shell pasta
  • 1 pound ground veal
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
  • 2 cups fresh spinach leaves, roughly chopped
  • Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a casserole dish and set aside.
  2. Cook the shell pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, and sauté until the onion is translucent and fragrant.
  4. Add the ground veal to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it up into crumbles.
  5. Stir in the minced chipotle peppers and cumin, and cook for another minute.
  6. Add the fresh or frozen corn kernels and cook for a few minutes until they are heated through.
  7. Add the fresh spinach leaves to the skillet and cook until wilted.
  8. Pour in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a simmer. Let it cook for a few minutes until slightly thickened.
  9. Remove the skillet from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  10. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, veal mixture, shredded cheddar cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, and grated Parmesan cheese. Stir well to coat the pasta evenly.
  11. Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish and spread it out evenly.
  12. Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
  13. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  14. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.

Recipes