This recipe makes a great big casserole dish full of noodles making it perfect for dinner parties and potlucks. I like to entertain with these just because they look pretty and taste great. In reality, you could serve up to 16 people with this meal as long as you pair it up with a nice salad or other fitting side dish. Just be prepared for everyone to take two helpings because it’s soooo good! Check out what they are saying about this recipe over at The Recipe Rebel:
“This would be a great way to make leftover mashed potatoes new again, and you could even stir some ham in if you’ve got it sitting in the fridge.”
Don’t let any of your leftovers this Easter go to waste…toss them in a shell!
Ingredients
16 large pasta shells, cooked and cooled
18 Little Yellow Potatoes
½ cup chicken broth or milk
¼ tsp minced garlic
¼ tsp basil pesto (or substitute fresh or dried herbs of choice)
Salt to taste
1 and ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
2-3 slices Hormel bacon, diced, cooked and crumbled
Green onions for garnish
2 tbsp Land O’ Lakes butter
2 tbsp Gold Medal all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
Salt to taste
Instructions
If baking right away, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. If making ahead, preheat the oven before you wish to bake it. Grease a 9×9” pan and set aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Halve or quarter the potatoes (only to speed up cooking time) and add to the water (adding them before the water is boiling is fine). Cook 7-10 minutes, until tender. Drain.
Mash potatoes with chicken broth, garlic, and pesto. Salt to taste. Stir in ½ cup of cheese.
Place potatoes in a disposable piping bag or large Ziploc bag. Cut about a ½” wide opening in the end of the bag and pipe potatoes into the shells (this is the easiest way – feel free to also spoon it in). Place potato stuffed shells in prepared pan. *To make ahead, cover now and refrigerate. Refrigerate all of your garnishes as well.
Before baking, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and prepare Béchamel sauce: In a large pot (it can be the same one you used for the potatoes), melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and cook over medium heat, whisking, until thickened. Season with salt as desired.
Remove pan from the fridge. Drizzle shells with Béchamel sauce, sprinkle with cheese and bacon and bake for 30 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Broil 1-2 minutes if desired. Sprinkle with green onions.
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Quick Tip: Store-bought alfredo sauce tastes just fine in this dish.
Thanks again to The Recipe Rebel for this tantalizing recipe.
