Taco Stuffed Shells

Picture from blogchef.net

     This is my favorite recipe that I have found, so far, on Pinterest. Normally, I wouldn't think of using taco stuff with pasta, but this was so good. I may never eat regular taco meat again. The addition of cream cheese to the filling really made this something special. Speaking of filling, I waited a while before making this because the thought of filling little shells with crumbly meat seemed like it might be more work than I wanted to put in. It's totally worth it! If you are still turned off by the idea, I was thinking you could make another type of pasta, like macaroni or rotini, and just mix it all together before baking....so it would be more like a casserole I guess. It just sounds so 1950s to say "casserole" doesn't it?
     By the way, I forgot to take a picture of this...that is why I used the image from blogchef. There picture is much better than mine would have been anyhow. Also, I used ground turkey. I almost always used lean ground turkey instead of beef (except for burgers!).

1lb ground beef (or turkey or whatever)
1 package taco seasoning
1 4 once package cream cheese
12 large pasta shells
1 cup salsa
1 cup taco sauce
1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
1 cup Monterey jack cheese (shredded)
1 ½ cups tortilla chips (crushed)
3 green onions (chopped)
1 cup sour cream

•  In a fry pan cook ground beef and add taco seasoning and prepare according to package directions. Add cream cheese cover and simmer until cheese is melted. Blend well. Set aside and allow to fully cool. While burger is cooking cook the pasta shells, drain and toss well with butter.
•  Pour salsa in the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
•  Stuff each shell with the meat mixture. Place the stuffed shells in the baking dish and cover the tops of the shells with taco sauce.
• Cover and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
•  After 30 minutes, uncover, and sprinkle crushed chips and shredded cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses on top.  Cook for about 15 more minutes. Serve with sour cream, additional salsa, black olives or whatever you think goes good with tacos!