This recipe for alfredo stuffed shells is the perfect weeknight dinner. Creamy Alfredo sauce, shredded chicken, and broccoli combine inside a large shell for the ultimate comfort food. Serve with a side salad and garlic knots for a quick dinner everyone will love!
This recipe was originally published September 16, 2015. It has since been updated to include fresh photos and helpful tips.
Recipe Features:
- Make-Ahead Dinner- You can make this the day before and keep it stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake. This is especially helpful if you have a busy day ahead.
- Freezer friendly! Make a double batch and keep half in the freezer for a quick grab dinner.
- Quick and Easy- Use leftovers and canned sauce to make this a super quick dinner.
Everyone, I have a secret to share. These chicken and broccoli stuffed shells are about to become your new go-to dinner. Loved by all, even our pickiest eater, and a snap to make. Stuffed shells also happen to be one of my favorite pastas in the world. They are just so dang simple to make and taste incredible. Especially when you are smothering the stuffed shells with alfredo sauce and including THREE cheeses!
Chicken Alfredo Shells Ingredients:
Like most of my quick dinners, this recipe calls for pretty basic ingredients. It is a great way to use leftovers or quick grab a rotisserie chicken. Here’s what you need to get started:
- Jumbo Shells- It is best to cook these in advance and rinse with cool water for easier handling.
- Shredded Chicken- See my tip below on how to easily shred chicken.
- Ricotta Cheese- You can always use cottage cheese in a pinch. We have done that more than once and it tastes good.
- Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheese
- Egg- 1 large egg to bind the filling together.
- Broccoli- Or any other vegetable you would like to add. Bonus tip: We buy frozen broccoli from Costco and use that in most of our pasta dishes. Quick way to sneak in veggies and you won’t have to worry about a fresh head going bad before you get to it.
- Alfredo- Store bought or homemade.
- Salt and Pepper
Quick Homemade Alfredo Sauce:
Jarred sauce works beautifully, and cuts back prep time, but sometimes homemade is worth the extra effort. This is my very quick go-to Alfredo sauce.
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- Garlic, 1 clove, minced
- 1 Tablespoon flour
- 1-1/2 cups milk
- 3/4 cup Parmesan
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- Melt butter in a saucepan.
- Whisk in the garlic clove and flour flour.
- Stir in milk and cook until slightly thickened.
- Remove from the heat and stir in freshly grated Parmesan and teaspoon pepper.
How to make Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly mist a 9×9 dish with cooking spray.
- Spoon 1/2 cup Alfredo sauce on the bottom of the pan and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine the chicken, ricotta, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, Parmesan, egg, broccoli, and 1/2 cup Alfredo.
- Spoon into your cooked shells and place each in your pan.
- Spread the remaining sauce over the shells and sprinkle with the 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.
- Cover and bake 20 minutes.
- Uncover and cook an additional 10 minutes.
Recipe Tips and FAQs
- Use leftover chicken to fill these shells.
- OR Pick up a rotisserie chicken for a quick prep.
- Leftover filling? Add it over the top of the shells before topping with sauce.
- Ready for a life changing kitchen hack? Shred your chicken using a hand mixer or your kitchenaid fitted with the paddle attachment. It takes seconds!
We like to serve this recipe with a side salad and garlic bread. It gives you a wonderfully rounded dinner that the entire family will love.
Homemade is best, in my opinion, and if you haven’t tried my Better Than Olive Garden Alfredo you are missing out!
However, according to Food Network, Rao’s makes a pretty darn tasty sauce. We are also big fans of the Trader Joe’s brand.
Yes! This recipe is incredibly freezer friendly. Here’s what you need to do:
Make the recipe all the way through step 4. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap. Freeze solid and transfer to a freezer safe zip top bag. *It can be super helpful to freeze these shells in disposable tins.
When you are ready to bake, take the pasta out of the freezer THE NIGHT BEFORE and keep it stored in the refrigerator. Bake according to the recipe directions.
Yes! This recipe is easy to make in the slow cooker. Fill the cooked shells with the chicken filling. Place in the bottom of a slow cooker. Top with sauce and cheese. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
More Pasta Recipes:
- Lasagna Stuffed Shells
- Ranch Chicken Stuffed Shells
- 5-Ingredient Ravioli Bake
- Cajun Chicken Pasta
- Easy Chicken Caesar Salad
- Chicken Caprese Pasta
- Fresh Tomato Pasta
- Make-Ahead Pasta Bake
More Easy Dinner Ideas:
- Crispy Baked Ranch Chicken– Only 20 minutes!
- Grilled Hawaiian Chicken– Family Fave!
- Quick Chicken Cordon Bleu
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches
- Easy Chicken Stir Fry
Still hungry? Follow One Sweet Appetite on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!
Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells
Ingredients
- 20 jumbo shells cooked
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella divided
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 cup finely diced broccoli
- 2 cups Alfredo sauce*
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly mist a 9×9 dish with cooking spray.
- 2. Spoon 1/2 cup Alfredo sauce on the bottom of the pan.
- 3. In a large bowl combine the chicken, ricotta, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, Parmesan, egg, broccoli, and 1/2 cup Alfredo. Spoon into your cooked shells and place each in your pan.
- 4. Spread the remaining sauce over the shells and sprinkle with the 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.
- 5. Cover and bake 20 minutes. Uncover and cook an additional 10 minutes.
Notes
- Make the recipe through step 4. Wrap the pan tightly in plastic wrap. Place in a gallon zip top bag and freeze solid.
- It helps to use disposable tins for freezing.
- Take the pasta out of the freezer the night before you plan to serve.
- When ready, bake as directed.
Nutrition
Equipment
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Comments & Reviews
Keegan says
Do you cook the broccoli first?
Jesseca says
I don’t, but you could if you wanted to.
Aimee @ like mother like daughter says
You know me and my love for stuffed shells, I just HAVE to try this alfredo version. Yum!
Jesseca says
It’s SO good. Make homemade alfredo if you make them. So much better. Also, you need to try my lasagna stuffed shells. The original photos are terrible but it’s one of our all time favorite meals.