Sometimes you just want a dinner that’s almost a no-brainer but still feels warm and creamy and homey. These Oven Baked 3-Ingredient Lazy Cream Cheese Salsa Shells are the perfect recipe to grab when you don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Turn regular pasta shells into a tasty baked pasta recipe everyone in the family will enjoy with just 3 simple ingredients.
I love recipes like this because they don’t require a long list of ingredients or complex sauce. As the shells bake, the cream cheese melts into the salsa, creating a creamy, tangy sauce that coats each piece of pasta. You get plenty of flavor without having to make a separate cheese sauce or chop vegetables.
This recipe is especially good for busy weeknights when you need dinner done fast. Cook the pasta, stir in the salsa and cream cheese, throw it in a baking dish and let the oven do the rest. It is also a great option if you have a few basic ingredients in your fridge and pantry but don’t want to go to the grocery store.
Serve these delicious creamy salsa shells with a side of simple green salad, steamed broccoli, roasted vegetables or warm garlic bread. To make the meal more filling, you can add cooked shredded chicken or seasoned ground beef, but the three-ingredient version is satisfying on its own.
If you’re looking for an easy pasta recipe, quick family dinner, budget friendly comfort food, easy weeknight dinner, cream cheese pasta recipe, or simple casserole recipe this is one to add to your recipe collection.
Why These Salsa Cream Cheese Shells Are Good
- The magic is in the contrast of the two major flavors.
- Cream cheese lends richness and creaminess to the pasta, and salsa provides the tomatoes, peppers, onions and seasoning without needing a handful of separate ingredients.
- The pasta shells make the combination even better since the shape traps the sauce inside and around the edges.
- You don’t need much prep to have the whole casserole ready for the oven.
- That’s just what I need when I’m hungry and tired.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces medium pasta shells
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened, cut into pieces
- 2 cups salsa, chunky
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish lightly.
- Cook pasta shells in boiling water until tender, about 8 minutes; drain. Drain well and return shells to the warm pot.
- Add the softened cream cheese and salsa to pasta. Stir gently until the cream cheese starts to melt and all is evenly coated.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Cover tightly with foil.
- Bake 20 minutes. Take off the foil and stir the shells gently. Cook uncovered for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the sauce is hot and creamy.
- Let pasta rest for about 5 minutes and then serve. Stir again and serve the creamy shells into bowls while hot.
Tips and Variations
Select Your Salsa: Mild salsa will keep it family friendly, medium or hot salsa will turn up the heat. Alternatively, you can use roasted tomato salsa for a deeper flavor.
Add Cooked Chicken: If you want a heartier dinner, add in 2 cups of cooked shredded chicken before transferring the pasta to the baking dish. Rotisserie chicken makes a great quick dinner.
Use Ground Beef: Cooked seasoned ground beef can turn these creamy salsa shells into a taco-inspired pasta bake. Drain beef well; toss with pasta.
Extra Cheesy: For an extra touch, sprinkle some shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack on top before you pop it in the oven. The shells warm through and the cheese melts to a golden crust.
Don’t overcook the pasta: Before baking, cook the shells just until they’re tender. They will be cooked further in the oven and slightly firm pasta helps to keep the finished dish from being too soft.
Stir Before Serving: The cream cheese may settle in some spots when baking so gently stir the shells once they come out of the oven. This helps to spread the creamy salsa sauce evenly.
Leftover. Keep leftover pasta in a covered container in the refrigerator. If the sauce gets too thick, add a little spoon of salsa or splash of milk when reheating.
Serve With Simple Sides: A crisp green salad, steamed broccoli, corn or roasted vegetables can be a nice side to the creamy pasta. Another easy addition to a warm family dinner is garlic bread.
Make Ahead: Assemble the pasta in the baking dish, cover, and refrigerate until ready to bake. If baking from the refrigerator, add more baking time to ensure the center is heated through.
This Oven Baked 3-Ingredient Lazy Cream Cheese Salsa Shells recipe is proof of how simple a comforting pasta dinner can be. The shells have a rich texture from the cream cheese and the salsa adds tomato flavor and just the right seasoning. You can get a warm baked dinner on the table with just three main ingredients and no hours in the kitchen.
If you’re looking for an easy weeknight dinner, a simple cream cheese pasta recipe or a budget-friendly baked pasta dish, these salsa shells are an easy recipe to keep in your rotation. Serve with a salad or some vegetables and you have a comforting home made meal with very little effort.