Description
Tender jumbo pasta shells filled with creamy chicken and cheese, baked in a luscious garlic butter Alfredo sauce — the ultimate comfort food for dinner nights!
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Garlic Butter Alfredo Sauce
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ tsp nutmeg (optional, for warmth)
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- For the Stuffing
- 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped
- 1 cup ricotta cheese (or cream cheese for extra richness)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- Salt & pepper to taste
- For Assembly
- 20 jumbo pasta shells, cooked al dente
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella (for topping)
- 2 tbsp butter (for greasing dish)
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta Shells: Boil the jumbo shells in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse lightly under cool water, and drizzle with a touch of olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
- Prepare the Garlic Butter Alfredo Sauce: In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Whisk in flour to form a light roux; cook for 1 minute. Gradually pour in heavy cream and milk while whisking. Simmer gently for 3–5 minutes until thickened. Stir in Parmesan, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat.
- Mix the Chicken Filling: In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken, ricotta (or cream cheese), mozzarella, Parmesan, and parsley. Add ½ cup of prepared Alfredo sauce to bind. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Stuff the Shells: Spread ½ cup Alfredo sauce across the bottom of a buttered 9×13-inch baking dish. Fill each shell with 2–3 tablespoons of the chicken mixture and arrange snugly in the dish. Spoon remaining Alfredo sauce evenly over the shells. Sprinkle with the reserved mozzarella.
- Bake to Perfection: Cover loosely with foil and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes until cheese is melted and golden. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm.
Notes
For an even creamier result, use a mix of ricotta and cream cheese in the filling. You can prepare this dish ahead of time and refrigerate before baking — perfect for meal prep or entertaining guests!
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 160mg