Get ready to indulge in a comforting dish that combines the flavors of creamy white cheddar and savory chicken tucked into jumbo pasta shells. This recipe is perfect for a cozy family dinner or a gathering with friends, offering a delightful blend of textures and rich tastes.
Photos of Jumbo Shell Pasta Stuffed with Baby White Cheddar and Chicken Macaroni Recipe
One ingredient you might not commonly have at home is Tillamook vintage white extra sharp cheddar cheese. This specialty cheese offers a distinct sharp flavor that elevates the dish. Additionally, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes may be less familiar to some, and they add a sweet and tangy twist to the recipe.
Ingredients For Jumbo Shell Pasta Stuffed With Baby White Cheddar And Chicken Macaroni
Dried small shell macaroni noodles: These are used to create the filling for the jumbo shells.
Dried jumbo shell macaroni noodles: These act as vessels for the cheesy chicken macaroni mixture.
Tillamook salted butter: Adds richness and helps to create the roux for the cheese sauce.
All purpose flour: Thickens the cheese sauce for a creamy consistency.
Whole milk: Adds creaminess to the sauce.
Half and half: A mix of milk and cream that contributes to the sauce's richness.
Salt: Enhances the flavors of the dish.
Cracked black pepper: Adds a bit of heat and complexity.
Tillamook vintage white extra sharp cheddar cheese: The main cheese providing a sharp, tangy flavor.
Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes: Adds a sweet and tangy element to the filling.
Chicken: Provides a savory protein component to the dish.
Nonstick cooking spray: Prevents the pasta from sticking to the baking dish.
Cornflakes: Adds a crunchy topping to contrast the creamy filling.
One reader, Beniamino Norwood says:
This dish is a delightful blend of creamy cheddar and tender chicken, perfectly nestled in jumbo pasta shells. The sun-dried tomatoes add a burst of flavor, and the cornflake topping gives a satisfying crunch. It's a comforting, crowd-pleasing meal that's easy to make and absolutely delicious!
Culinary Techniques for Preparing Jumbo Shell Pasta Stuffed With Baby White Cheddar and Chicken Macaroni
How to cook macaroni noodles: Follow package directions to cook both small and jumbo shell macaroni noodles to al dente. How to stop the cooking process: Rinse the cooked noodles with cold water immediately after cooking. How to make a roux: Melt butter in a saucepan, add flour, and whisk for 1 minute. How to make a cheese sauce: Gradually whisk in milk and half-and-half into the roux, cook until thickened and bubbly, then stir in salt, pepper, and shredded cheese until melted. How to fill jumbo shells: Carefully fill each jumbo shell with the prepared white cheddar macaroni mixture. How to prepare a baking dish: Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. How to make a cornflake topping: Stir together melted butter and crushed cornflakes, then sprinkle evenly on top of the filled shells.
How To Make Jumbo Shell Pasta Stuffed with Baby White Cheddar and Chicken Macaroni
This stuffed shell pasta dish is packed with macaroni in creamy cheesy white sauce, shredded chicken, and tomatoes, baked with cornflakes topping.
Serves:
Ingredients
- 6ozdried small shell macaroni noodles
- 12ozdried jumbo shell macaroni noodles
- ¼cupTillamook salted butter,plus 2 tbsp melted
- ¼cupall purpose flour
- 2cupswhole milk
- 1cuphalf and half
- 1tspsalt
- 1tspcracked black pepper
- 4cupsTillamook Vintage White Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese,shredded
- ¾: 5px; letter-spacing: 2px”>2cupschicken,cooked, shredded
- nonstick cooking spray
- 1cupcornflakes,finely crushed
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
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In a large saucepan, cook both macaroni noodles separately according to package directions to al dente.
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Immediately rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain and set each aside.
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In a large, heavy saucepan, melt ¼ cup butter over medium to high heat; add flour and whisk for 1 minute.
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Gradually whisk in milk and half-and-half; continue to cook over medium to high heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly.
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Stir in salt, pepper, and 3 cups shredded cheese, until melted.
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Stir in small-shell macaroni, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and shredded chicken.
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Spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
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Fill each jumbo shell carefully with white cheddar macaroni and place each side by side in the dish.
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Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup shredded cheese.
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Stir together 2 tablespoons melted butter and crushed cornflakes. Sprinkle evenly on the tops of shells.
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Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown on top.
Nutrition
- Calories: 787.21kcal
- Fat: 44.30g
- Saturated Fat: 21.82g
- Trans Fat: 1.04g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 13.66g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.99g
- Carbohydrates: 62.10g
- Fiber: 2.95g
- Sugar: 6.62g
- Protein: 34.81g
- Cholesterol: 126.11mg
- Sodium: 662.87mg
- Calcium: 572.40mg
- Potassium: 556.38mg
- Iron: 2.80mg
- Vitamin A: 317.70µg
- Vitamin C: 12.07mg
Helpful Technique for Stuffing Jumbo Pasta Shells With Cheesy Chicken Macaroni
When filling the jumbo shells with the white cheddar macaroni, use a piping bag or a large zip-top bag with the corner cut off. This will make the process cleaner and more efficient, ensuring each shell is evenly filled without making a mess.
Time-Saving Tips for Preparing This Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Pasta Recipe
Prepare ingredients ahead: Cook and shred the chicken in advance to save time on assembly day.
Use pre-shredded cheese: Opt for pre-shredded Tillamook vintage white extra sharp cheddar cheese to cut down on prep time.
Cook pasta simultaneously: Boil the small shell macaroni noodles and jumbo shell macaroni noodles in separate pots at the same time.
Preheat the oven early: Start preheating the oven while you prepare the sauce to streamline the process.
Assemble in batches: Fill the jumbo shells in batches to make the process quicker and more efficient.
Substitute Ingredients For Jumbo Shell Pasta Stuffed with Baby White Cheddar and Chicken Macaroni Recipe
dried small shell macaroni noodles - Substitute with dried elbow macaroni: Elbow macaroni has a similar shape and texture, making it a good alternative for holding the cheese sauce.
dried jumbo shell macaroni noodles - Substitute with cannelloni tubes: Cannelloni tubes can be stuffed similarly and provide a similar texture and taste.
tillamook salted butter - Substitute with unsalted butter: You can control the salt level better by using unsalted butter and adding salt separately.
all purpose flour - Substitute with cornstarch: Cornstarch can be used as a thickening agent in place of flour, though you may need to adjust the quantity.
whole milk - Substitute with 2% milk: 2% milk will still provide creaminess but with slightly less fat content.
half and half - Substitute with heavy cream: Heavy cream will make the dish richer and creamier, though it has a higher fat content.
salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt can be used in the same quantity and will provide a slightly different mineral taste.
cracked black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper will provide a similar heat without the black specks, which can be preferable for a white sauce.
tillamook vintage white extra sharp cheddar cheese - Substitute with aged gouda: Aged gouda has a similar sharpness and creaminess, making it a good alternative.
oil packed sun dried tomatoes - Substitute with fresh cherry tomatoes: Fresh cherry tomatoes can add a burst of freshness and acidity, though they will have a different texture.
chicken - Substitute with turkey: Turkey has a similar texture and flavor profile, making it a suitable substitute.
nonstick cooking spray - Substitute with olive oil: Olive oil can be brushed onto the baking dish to prevent sticking and add a bit of flavor.
cornflakes - Substitute with panko breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs will provide a similar crunchy topping without the sweetness of cornflakes.
Presenting Jumbo Shell Pasta Stuffed With Baby White Cheddar and Chicken Macaroni
Serve smaller portion sizes: Present the jumbo shell pasta on a pristine white plate, ensuring each shell is perfectly stuffed and intact. Limit the portion to three shells per plate to maintain elegance and focus.
Use decoration: Garnish the plate with a delicate drizzle of balsamic reduction around the edges. Add a few microgreens on top of each shell for a touch of freshness and color contrast.
Highlight textures: Ensure the cornflake topping is evenly distributed and golden brown. This will provide a delightful crunch that contrasts with the creamy white cheddar macaroni filling.
Incorporate height: Stack the jumbo shells slightly on top of each other in a pyramid formation. This adds visual interest and sophistication to the dish.
Add a sauce: Create a light tomato cream sauce using the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes. Spoon a small amount of this sauce around the base of the shells to enhance flavor and presentation.
Use high-quality ingredients: Emphasize the use of Tillamook vintage white extra sharp cheddar cheese by mentioning it in the menu description. This highlights the premium nature of the dish.
Balance colors: Ensure the sun-dried tomatoes are visible in the filling, providing a pop of red against the creamy cheese and chicken. This creates a visually appealing contrast.
Maintain cleanliness: Wipe the edges of the plate clean before serving to ensure a professional and polished presentation. This attention to detail is crucial for a Michelin-star-worthy dish.
Essential Kitchen Tools for Making This Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Pasta Recipe
Large saucepan: Used to cook both the small and jumbo shell macaroni noodles separately to al dente.
Colander: Essential for draining the cooked macaroni noodles after rinsing them with cold water.
Heavy saucepan: Ideal for melting butter and preparing the cheese sauce by whisking in flour, milk, and half-and-half.
Whisk: Necessary for blending the butter and flour together and for gradually incorporating the milk and half-and-half to create a smooth sauce.
Measuring cups: Used to measure out the butter, flour, milk, half-and-half, and shredded cheese accurately.
Measuring spoons: Needed for measuring the salt and cracked black pepper precisely.
Wooden spoon: Useful for stirring the cheese sauce and incorporating the small-shell macaroni, sun-dried tomatoes, and shredded chicken.
13x9-inch baking dish: The dish in which the stuffed jumbo shells will be arranged and baked.
Nonstick cooking spray: Used to coat the baking dish to prevent the stuffed shells from sticking.
Tablespoon: Required for measuring and melting the additional butter to mix with the crushed cornflakes.
Oven: Preheated to 400 degrees F, it bakes the stuffed shells until they are golden brown on top.
Mixing bowl: Handy for combining the melted butter and crushed cornflakes before sprinkling them on top of the shells.
Knife: Needed for chopping the sun-dried tomatoes and shredding the chicken.
Cutting board: Provides a safe surface for chopping the sun-dried tomatoes and shredding the chicken.
Cheese grater: Used to shred the vintage white extra sharp cheddar cheese.
Oven mitts: Essential for safely handling the hot baking dish when removing it from the oven.
Storing and Freezing Instructions for Jumbo Shell Pasta Stuffed With Baby White Cheddar and Chicken Macaroni
- Allow the jumbo shell pasta to cool completely before storing or freezing.
- To store in the refrigerator, place the cooled pasta in an airtight container and keep it refrigerated for up to 3-4 days.
- When ready to reheat, place the desired amount of pasta in a microwave-safe dish and heat until warmed through, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating.
- To freeze, place the cooled pasta in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag, removing as much air as possible before sealing.
- Label the container or bag with the date and contents for easy identification.
- Frozen jumbo shell pasta can be stored for up to 2-3 months.
- To reheat from frozen, place the desired amount of pasta in a microwave-safe dish and heat until warmed through, stirring occasionally. Alternatively, you can thaw the pasta overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat it in the microwave or oven until heated through.
- If the pasta seems dry after reheating, add a splash of milk or cream to help restore its creamy texture.
- For best results, consume the reheated pasta within 1-2 days of thawing.
How To Reheat Leftover Stuffed Pasta Shells
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the leftover stuffed shells in an oven-safe dish and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until heated through. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes to crisp up the top if desired.
For a quicker method, place the stuffed shells on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. The damp paper towel will help prevent the shells from drying out.
If you have a bit more time, you can reheat the stuffed shells in a skillet on the stovetop. Add a splash of chicken broth or water to the pan, place the shells in the liquid, and cover with a lid. Heat over medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes, or until the shells are heated through and the liquid has mostly evaporated.
For a crispy top, after reheating the stuffed shells using any of the above methods, place them under the broiler for 1-2 minutes. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
If the stuffed shells seem a bit dry after reheating, drizzle some extra melted butter or heavy cream over the top before serving to add moisture and richness.
Interesting Trivia About Jumbo Shell Pasta Stuffed With Baby White Cheddar and Chicken Macaroni
A unique aspect of this recipe is the combination of jumbo shell pasta and small shell macaroni, creating a delightful texture contrast. The use of Tillamook vintage white extra sharp cheddar cheese adds a rich, tangy flavor that pairs perfectly with the chicken and sun-dried tomatoes.
Is Making This Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Pasta Recipe at Home Cost-Effective?
This recipe for jumbo shell pasta stuffed with baby white cheddar and chicken macaroni is moderately cost-effective. The use of premium ingredients like Tillamook vintage white extra sharp cheddar cheese and sun-dried tomatoes adds to the cost but elevates the dish's flavor. For a household of 4, the approximate cost is around $25-$30 USD, considering the quality of ingredients. Overall Verdict: 7/10.
Is This Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Pasta Healthy or Unhealthy?
This recipe for jumbo shell pasta stuffed with baby white cheddar and chicken macaroni is undeniably delicious, but it falls short in terms of being a healthy meal. The dish is high in calories, saturated fat, and sodium due to the generous amounts of butter, whole milk, half-and-half, and cheese used. Additionally, the recipe lacks a significant amount of vegetables, which are essential for a balanced diet.
To make this recipe healthier, consider the following suggestions:
- Replace whole milk and half-and-half with low-fat milk or a plant-based alternative like unsweetened almond milk
- Reduce the amount of butter used or substitute it with a healthier option like olive oil
- Incorporate more vegetables into the dish, such as spinach, broccoli, or bell peppers, to increase fiber and nutrient content
- Use whole wheat pasta instead of regular pasta to add more fiber and nutrients
- Opt for low-fat or reduced-fat cheese to decrease the amount of saturated fat
- Replace the cornflake topping with a mixture of whole wheat breadcrumbs and grated parmesan cheese for a healthier crunch
By making these adjustments, you can create a more balanced and nutritious meal that still satisfies your craving for a comforting pasta dish. Remember, moderation is key, and it's perfectly fine to indulge in a more decadent version of this recipe occasionally as part of a well-rounded diet.
Editor's Opinion on This Delightful Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Pasta Dish
This recipe offers a delightful twist on classic comfort food. The combination of creamy white cheddar and tender chicken, encased in jumbo shells, creates a rich and satisfying dish. The sun-dried tomatoes add a burst of tangy sweetness, while the cornflake topping provides a pleasing crunch. The use of both small and jumbo shells is innovative, ensuring a variety of textures. Overall, this dish is a harmonious blend of flavors and textures, perfect for a cozy family dinner or a special gathering.
Enhance Your Jumbo Shell Pasta Stuffed with Baby White Cheddar and Chicken Macaroni Recipe with These Unique Side Dishes:
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Why trust this Jumbo Shell Pasta Stuffed with Baby White Cheddar and Chicken Macaroni Recipe:
This recipe combines the rich flavors of Tillamook vintage white extra sharp cheddar cheese and sun-dried tomatoes with the comforting taste of chicken and macaroni. The creamy sauce, made with whole milk and half-and-half, ensures a luscious texture, while the cornflake topping adds a delightful crunch. Each step is carefully crafted to bring out the best in these ingredients, making it a trustworthy and delicious choice for any meal.
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