Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells

By
Pete Scherer
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Pete Scherer
Pete Scherer is a cook and baker with a decade of experience across many facets of the Southern California food scene.
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Updated on 06/23/21
chicken alfredo stuffed shells

The Spruce / Pete Scherer

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 29 mins
Total: 44 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Yield: 1 pan
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
858 Calories
63g Fat
26g Carbs
48g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 858
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 63g 81%
Saturated Fat 35g 173%
Cholesterol 285mg 95%
Sodium 3978mg 173%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 9%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 48g
Vitamin C 4mg 19%
Calcium 681mg 52%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 446mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Fast, easy-to-cook meals are the saving grace of weeknights and essential for busy households with hectic schedules. Cheesy chicken-stuffed shells drenched in creamy alfredo sauce make a quick and hearty weeknight family dinner. They’re a solid crowd-pleaser that you can pull off in a pinch.

Stuffed shells look pretty impressive, but they’re actually incredibly simple. With prepared alfredo sauce and rotisserie chicken from the supermarket, most of the work has already been done. All you have to do is pull and chop the chicken, mix up the filling, stuff the shells, cover with sauce and cheese, and bake.

If you want to get a little more chef-y, it’s absolutely fine to start with raw chicken. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work very well in this recipe; simply bake, slow cook, or poach and then pull the meat off of the bones. Homemade alfredo sauce would make this dish extra luxurious.

If you are cooking for a larger group, this recipe scales up easily. For a big crowd, double the recipe and cook in two 9 by 13-inch pans.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup kosher salt

  • 12 ounces jumbo pasta shells

  • 2 cups pulled rotisserie chicken, roughly chopped

  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese

  • 2 cups Italian blend shredded cheese, divided

  • 1 large egg

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 1 (15-ounce) jar alfredo sauce

  • Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

  2. In a large pot, bring four quarts of water to a boil. Add the salt and jumbo shells. Stir periodically to keep the shells from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Cook for 9 minutes or until al dente, then drain and set aside to cool.

  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the chicken, ricotta, 1 cup of the shredded cheese blend, and egg. Stir to incorporate. Season with salt and pepper.

  4. Pour half the jar of Alfredo sauce into a 9 by 13-inch baking pan.

  5. Stuff the cooked pasta shells with the chicken mixture and set them open-side down into the prepared baking pan. Pour the remaining alfredo sauce over the shells, then top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

  6. Bake for 20 minutes, or until cheese begins to slightly brown at the edges. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley. Serve immediately.

Tip

  • When you prep the rotisserie chicken, it's easiest to pull the meat off by hand. A pair of disposable gloves comes in handy to keep things quick and tidy. Keep an eye out for the wishbone. In smaller chickens, the wishbone breaks easily and can stow away in the breast meat. Make sure your chicken is free of bones before chopping.