Shelly's Recipe

BEEF FIESTA SHELLS

Category: Ground

1 lb. ground round beef or 1 package fully cooked ground beef or shredded beef
1 small white onion, chopped
1 small can chopped green chilies
1 cup grated, reduced fat, cheddar cheese
1 jar (12 ounces) picante sauce (mild or medium)
1 small can tomato sauce
1 small can French fried onion rings, divided
18 large pasta shells (stuffable kind)

Cook pasta shells according to directions. Preheat oven to 350.

In a bowl, combine tomato sauce, picante sauce and one cup of water. Set aside.

(If using fully cooked ground beef, saute onions until soft. Add beef and continue as below, omitting salt and pepper.) Brown meat with onions, salt and pepper. Add green chilies, 1/2-cup of cheese, half a can of onion rings and 1/2 cup of prepared sauce.

Stuff shells with meat mixture. Pour remaining sauce over shells. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Sprinkle remaining onion rings and cheese over the top. Bake for 5 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly. Serves 6

NOTE: This recipe can be converted to a casserole by omitting the large pasta shells and replacing with a 12-ounce bag of medium-small pasta shells. Instead of stuffing shells, mix meat mixture with cooked small shells. Follow the rest of the original recipe.